Safe in Sweden, activist tells of threats by thugs, racist Malays

Activist Ali Abd Jalil, who became the second Malaysian in weeks to seek asylum abroad after being charged with sedition, has emerged on social media to confirm he is "now safe in Sweden".

On his Facebook page today, Ali thanked those who made it possible for him to leave Malaysia.

"Now I am in Sweden, looking for asylum… the Malaysian government and sultan treated me like rubbish.

"I have been threatened by gangsters and racist Malay groups in Malaysia. Malaysia is not safe for me, police and gangsters are following me all the time."

He also thanked Amnesty International, Suaram, Antifa Malaysia, Bar Council, Lawyers for Liberty, Sisters in Islam, Projek Dialog, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia, his friends and several other civil society groups.

Ali received the thumbs up from his Facebook friends, who wished him well and a safe journey.

Ali faces three sedition charges for allegedly insulting the Johor royalty and the Sultan of Selangor in his Facebook postings.

He has been accused of posting seditious remarks on a Facebook page called "Kapitalis Bangsat" that allegedly belittled the Johor sultanate.

Ali was first detained on September 8 and was taken into police custody in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor.

On September 23, he was released after posting bail of RM8,000 at the Shah Alam court complex.

His freedom was short-lived as he was re-arrested and taken to Johor, reportedly because other police reports had been lodged against him there.

Following his ordeal, Amnesty International adopted him as a prisoner of conscience (PoC), saying it was part of a push to ensure he did not suffer further punishment or selective prosecution.

The global human rights group has activated a rapid response mechanism at the international level to pressure Putrajaya to stop criminalising free speech and opinion, following a series of prosecutions under the Sedition Act.

News portal Rakyat Times, which is run by activist and lawyer Haris Ibrahim, reported that Ali left Malaysia on October 18 for Bangkok and later flew to Stockholm on October 21.

At Stockholm, Ali went to Amnesty International Sweden where he was advised on the procedure for applying for asylum. He was taken to the asylum centre before being moved to another town, Morsta.

Rakyat Times also reported that Ali had already been given a work permit and could begin work immediately.

Another Malaysian, Alvin Tan, who is facing  criminal charges under the Sedition Act as well as the Film Censorship Act for controversial online uploads, including a photo deemed insulting to Islam on Facebook, is seeking asylum in the United States.