KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 ― An Umno Youth exco claimed today that Malaysian courts can convict Alvin Tan of sedition over the former blogger’s video lampooning the azan though he is currently residing in the US.
Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen said he is lodging a police report in his personal capacity against Tan later today under the Sedition Act 1948, accusing the young man of insulting Islam and the Muslim call to prayer.
“If we make a police report and if the police investigate, the courts here can have a trial,” Mohd Rafiq told Malay Mail Online.
“The courts can sentence Alvin Tan in his absence. If a sentence is imposed, the Malaysian government and the police can work with the US to extradite Alvin Tan,” he added.
Tan, who first shot to fame here over his sex blog with then-girlfriend Vivian Lee, fled the country last September to seek political asylum in the US after he and Lee were charged with sedition for insulting Islam over a “bak kut teh” (Chinese pork dish) picture on their Facebook page.
Tan entered the spotlight again yesterday after posting a video on his official Facebook page that shows him shirtless and reciting an “R&B cover” of the azan while playing a keyboard.
The former blogger’s video sparked anger among several non-Muslims, but some Muslims said Tan was now “one step closer” to Islam.
Mohd Rafiq said, however, that Tan did not intend to embrace Islam and claimed that the ex-blogger had insulted Muslims previously by saying that Muslims can break fast with “bak kut teh”.
“We want the police to conduct a stern and quick investigation, including investigating him under the Sedition Act,” said Mohd Rafiq, who is also president of youth group Pemikir Muda Malaysia.
When pointed out that Tan has yet to be extradited over his earlier sedition case, Mohd Rafiq said: “Getting him back here is not my job; it’s the police’s job. I’m just doing what I can now.”
