YOURSAY ‘We need more of such brave, progressive Malay Muslim leaders.’

Ali flees to Sweden after multiple sedition charges

Anonymous_4031: Malaysians seeking asylum in other nations in ‘moderate’ Malaysia? Unheard of before. Now that Malaysia has won a seat at the United Nations Security Council, it must show the whole world how moderate our leaders are.

It is pointless to be a moderate overseas and an extremist at home. Listen to Nelson Mandela: "I hate race discrimination intensely; and shall fight against it to the very end."

Note also the words of Mahatma Gandhi: "A brave speech without action is merely letting off hot steam." Deeds must follow brave words; lest words are meaningless.

Indeed, actions speak louder than words. Practise moderation. Respect all religions; seizing bibles is not the way.

Do animals have rights, too, like human beings? Do animal-lovers have rights? Do girls and women have rights?

All have equal rights. Respect them and gain respect in return. Suppression, oppression and persecution are signs of insecurity and fear of losing power.

Universal suffrage is the right of all people. Why fear the people? Do not abuse power for self-preservation; the whole world is watching.

They are crying loudly for justice and fair play. Do you hear their cries of agony? Do you hear their shouts for freedom?

The brave will never fear losing power; they will fight on a level-playing field. Shakespeare wrote in Macbeth: "Cowards die many times before their deaths while the valiant never taste death but once."

Wg321: Charging a person for the same offence at three different locations is really an overkill. The Umno-BN government is really vindictive.

Originally, the Sedition Act 1948 was created to fight the communist insurgency in 1948. The Communist Party of Malaya under the late Chin Peng has officially surrendered 25 years ago under Haadyai Peace Accord in 1989.

Today the redundant Sedition Act is used selectively to persecute legitimate political opponents and activists.

Ali Abd Jalil made the right decision to leave the country and seek political asylum in Sweden. Otherwise he may have to suffer the same torture in prison like Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar.

ISSHHH: We feel sad that a young man has to uproot and leave in a hurry to another foreign country, leaving his family behind. We wish you well, and may you stay healthy and find success in your new home.

Lee Hup: To Ali, I wish you all the best in your new life in Sweden. It is very likely that soon, you will be complaining about the Swedish monarchy, the 25 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) and their Euro1.401 (RM5.82) per litre RON95 price.

SSDhaliwal: Good luck Ali, and may you prosper in a truly democratic nation such as Sweden but do not forget that you can still be an activist from there too.

Ignore Lee Hup's absurd comments like the petrol price and their taxes. People do not complain so much about higher taxes in the European Union or even in Canada because it is welfare state and the money comes back to the people without discrimination in terms of health care, excellent public transportation system, pension schemes and so much more.

In Malaysia, our tax dollars end up in some minister's illegal condominium purchases in Bangsar - using money that was meant for the poor.

Hplooi: Lee Hup tells only half the story. In Sweden, while the GST is 25 percent, it is the most egalitarian state with heavy socialist policies (please, not the same as communism).

While petrol price may be RM5.82, their average salary is more than RM30,000 a month. Most tellingly, they have an efficient public transportation system while their citizens are cared for (even the poor) from birth to death. Sweden's public healthcare is second to none (funded from taxation).

In Malaysia, while we used to have one of the best public healthcare systems in Southeast Asia, this is now being destroyed in the name of privatisation.

Despite paying toll, road /income/sales tax, our public transport is in shambles. Instead our government is bent on building more tolled roads.

Ali, all the best to you. Old timers like us cannot leave. But it pains me to confirm, by fact, that the country is in the grip of the Brownshirts.

As I have asserted, if not enough middle Malaysians, especially Malays, speak up, then when the Brownshirts come for you, nobody will be left to stand in solidarity with you.

Ourvotesdecide: Ali, fight the corrupt regime from wherever you are. Continue to speak up for Malaysians from there. We need more of such brave progressive Malay Muslim leaders.

Hmmmmmmmm: Someone once said, "When the government fears the people, it is a good government. When the people fear the government, it is a tyrannical government."

Jiminy Qrikert: Anonymous_4031 quoted Mahatma Gandhi, "A brave speech without actions is merely letting off hot steam."

We have all given our brave little speeches at some time or other here in Malaysiakini or some similar forum. Let it not be just hot steam.

The most important action for us all is to vote BN out come GE14. Then, all of the sacrifices and struggles of people like Ali and the Pakatan Rakyat leaders will not have been in vain.

Now even Malays are forsaking the country

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