Despite being arrested four times and
slapped with multiple charges of sedition, social activist Ali Abd Jalil
had always appeared unfazed and positive about his predicament.
So it came as a surprise to many when Ali finally fled to Sweden, but the activist said it was more than escaping the Sedition Act. He feared for his life.
"The police, gangsters, Perkasa, Malay right-wing groups, Umno groups are all looking for me, some of them have threatened to kill me and to beat me.
"Some even say that I am a traitor and I am not supposed to be treated like a person.
"Most
of the Malay groups (such as) Perkasa are saying that I am rubbish and
the police are not protecting me," Ali, who is now in Gävle, a city 170
kilometres north west of Stockholm.
Speaking to Malaysiakini via instant messenger, Ali said it was this sense of helplessness that finally pushed him to leave.
"Some people asked why I have to run away, actually it is not my decision.
"I have discussed with my friends, my colleagues and among my other activists. If I stay in Malaysia, I can't do anything," he said.
Ali, who was released on bail on Sept 29, said it took him three weeks after his 22-day detention to decide about leaving the country.
'I will always be Malaysian'
He then went about researching on the best country where he could seek asylum, even consulting blogger Alvin Tan who had also fled to the US after being charged under the Sedition Act for a Facebook posting deemed insulting to Muslims.
"I asked him what should I do, how can I cross the border and everything... He suggested for me to go to the US, but it's difficult because if I want to go to the US, I will need a visa," he said.
Ali, who left the country through Thailand, finally settled for Sweden after learning that it was among the friendliest countries in the world for asylum seekers.
In
fact, he said, he has already been granted a permit to work in Sweden
pending his asylum application after an interview with the authorities
there.
The 29-year-old student said he left the country with a heavy heart with family in mind as they will face "problems" because of him.
"Sometimes I am a bit worried about my family in Malaysia but I have no choice," he said.
The activist, who has yet to complete his studies in corporate management at a local university, said he longs for home but with three sedition charges hanging over his head, his life in Malaysia was untenable.
Nonetheless, whether he is granted asylum or not, Ali insists that he will not give up his Malaysian citizenship.
"I am still a Malaysian and I am so proud to be a Malaysian because Malaysia is my home and my parents, family, brothers and sisters are still in Malaysia," he said.
'I will return when Umno goes'
The day he returns home, he said, would be the day the ruling coalition falls from power.
"Hopefully the current Umno will collapse and when the government in Malaysia changes, I wish I can go back.
"The problem is now under the Umno government, if I go back, they will definitely arrest (me) and put me in jail like before.
"The police and judiciary are controlled by the government. So, maybe I will settle down here for a couple of years," he said.
Amnesty
International has adopted Ali as a "prisoner of conscious" during his
detention and its Sweden chapter in Stockholm had facilitated his bid to
seek for asylum.
Ali was on Sept 8 charged at the Selayang Sessions Court under Section 4(1)(c) of the Act for allegedly making a Facebook posting that is deemed insulting the Selangor sultan.
Upon posting bail of RM5,000 on the same day, Ali was immediately re-arrested and taken to the Shah Alam Sessions Court, where he faced two more counts under the same section of the Act.
He posted bail of RM8,000 for the two charges on Sept 23, only to be re-arrested 10 minutes later and taken to Johor Bahru for investigations, also under the Sedition Act for another Facebook posting allegedly insulting the Johor sultan.
Ali was remanded by the Johor police until Sept 27, but upon release, was re-arrested under a different section of the same Act in a bid to extend his remand.
He was finally released on bail on Sept 29.
Tomorrow: 'In Sweden, the monarch can be criticised'
So it came as a surprise to many when Ali finally fled to Sweden, but the activist said it was more than escaping the Sedition Act. He feared for his life.
"The police, gangsters, Perkasa, Malay right-wing groups, Umno groups are all looking for me, some of them have threatened to kill me and to beat me.
"Some even say that I am a traitor and I am not supposed to be treated like a person.
"Most
of the Malay groups (such as) Perkasa are saying that I am rubbish and
the police are not protecting me," Ali, who is now in Gävle, a city 170
kilometres north west of Stockholm.Speaking to Malaysiakini via instant messenger, Ali said it was this sense of helplessness that finally pushed him to leave.
"Some people asked why I have to run away, actually it is not my decision.
"I have discussed with my friends, my colleagues and among my other activists. If I stay in Malaysia, I can't do anything," he said.
Ali, who was released on bail on Sept 29, said it took him three weeks after his 22-day detention to decide about leaving the country.
'I will always be Malaysian'
He then went about researching on the best country where he could seek asylum, even consulting blogger Alvin Tan who had also fled to the US after being charged under the Sedition Act for a Facebook posting deemed insulting to Muslims.
"I asked him what should I do, how can I cross the border and everything... He suggested for me to go to the US, but it's difficult because if I want to go to the US, I will need a visa," he said.
Ali, who left the country through Thailand, finally settled for Sweden after learning that it was among the friendliest countries in the world for asylum seekers.
In
fact, he said, he has already been granted a permit to work in Sweden
pending his asylum application after an interview with the authorities
there.The 29-year-old student said he left the country with a heavy heart with family in mind as they will face "problems" because of him.
"Sometimes I am a bit worried about my family in Malaysia but I have no choice," he said.
The activist, who has yet to complete his studies in corporate management at a local university, said he longs for home but with three sedition charges hanging over his head, his life in Malaysia was untenable.
Nonetheless, whether he is granted asylum or not, Ali insists that he will not give up his Malaysian citizenship.
"I am still a Malaysian and I am so proud to be a Malaysian because Malaysia is my home and my parents, family, brothers and sisters are still in Malaysia," he said.
'I will return when Umno goes'
The day he returns home, he said, would be the day the ruling coalition falls from power.
"Hopefully the current Umno will collapse and when the government in Malaysia changes, I wish I can go back.
"The problem is now under the Umno government, if I go back, they will definitely arrest (me) and put me in jail like before.
"The police and judiciary are controlled by the government. So, maybe I will settle down here for a couple of years," he said.
Amnesty
International has adopted Ali as a "prisoner of conscious" during his
detention and its Sweden chapter in Stockholm had facilitated his bid to
seek for asylum.Ali was on Sept 8 charged at the Selayang Sessions Court under Section 4(1)(c) of the Act for allegedly making a Facebook posting that is deemed insulting the Selangor sultan.
Upon posting bail of RM5,000 on the same day, Ali was immediately re-arrested and taken to the Shah Alam Sessions Court, where he faced two more counts under the same section of the Act.
He posted bail of RM8,000 for the two charges on Sept 23, only to be re-arrested 10 minutes later and taken to Johor Bahru for investigations, also under the Sedition Act for another Facebook posting allegedly insulting the Johor sultan.
Ali was remanded by the Johor police until Sept 27, but upon release, was re-arrested under a different section of the same Act in a bid to extend his remand.
He was finally released on bail on Sept 29.
Tomorrow: 'In Sweden, the monarch can be criticised'
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