‘Let country where Alvin Tan is to act against him’

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SEREMBAN: The government has no intention to extradite controversial blogger Alvin Tan but instead, will allow any country he is in now to take legal action against him as an illegal immigrant, following the revocation of his international passport by the Malaysian government.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said not having a valid international passport had made him an illegal fugitive in that country.

“I agree with the minister (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) that we don’t need to embark on an (extradition) process, but let him (Tan) become an illegal immigrant wherever he is now – unless if we think that his action after this is too excessive.

“It’s up to the country where he is now to act against him as an illegal and if it thinks that he is not fit or not accepted to be there, that country will itself ask us to extradite him. If this happens, it will be easier for our authorities.”

Wan Junaidi said this here yesterday after the presentation of the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara to 300 former servicemen who had served the nation from the pre-independence days until their retirement.

Also present at the ceremony were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim.

Last Monday, the Malaysian Immigration Department announced that Tan’s passport was revoked with immediate effect over his actions that were deemed excessive and causing uneasiness in the country.

Tan or his real name, Tan Jye Yee, fled to the United States to escape two charges against him under the Film Censorship Act 2002 and Sedition Act 1948, and to seek political asylum.

Wan Junaidi said an extradition process for Tan would not be easy as expected as it would involve interdiction.

“The process is not as easy as we think as what is regarded as an offence in this country must also be accepted as the same in the country Tan is in now.

“If both countries see his action as an offence, the extradition process will be easier. If we try to bring him back just through the Royal Malaysia Police, Tan may take his case to court.”

Wan Junaidi said Tan in his argument might claim the action against him by the Malaysian government as political suppression and if this was accepted by the court, Tan might not be able to be extradited.

Tan and his ex-girlfriend Vivian Lee face a charge under the Film Censorship Act for their sex posting and another charge under the Sedition Act for their insensitive Ramadan greeting to Muslims that was posted on their blog last year. — Bernama