Immigration director-general Mustafa Ibrahim has confirmed that both notorious sex blogger Alvin Tan as well as activist Ali Abd Jalil's passports will be revoked. 

 

Mustafa said the Immigration will send a letter informing Tan and Ali that their passports have been revoked to their Malaysian addresses as soon as possible, latest by tomorrow.

 

"We have blacklisted Tan in our system and will blacklist Ali as soon as possible. Letters will soon be sent to them," he said in a press conference today.

 

Mustafa ( left ) explained that the move will serve as a warning against those who insult the courts, Islam and the rulers.

 

"It's a warning that we won't hesitate to take action against those who insult the courts, Islam and the rulers. This warning is not for them only (Tan and Ali), but for all," he said.

“We won’t give way for those whose actions are overboard (bertindak luar batasan).”

Mustafa said the duo’s actions had caused “discomfort” among Malaysians and as such, the government’s action was made based on the rakyat’s demands.

“On social media, the rakyat kept asking when action will be taken against Alvin,” he claimed.

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday said that the sex blogger’s travel document will be cancelled under the Immigration Act.

Alvin, however, challenged the government to cancel his passport.

‘Govt’s move unprecedented’

Meanwhile, Mustafa confirms that the government’s move was unprecedented as it had never revoked anyone’s passports, not even those of the Islamic State (IS) militants.

He also confirms that both Tan and Ali were still Malaysian citizens despite their passports having been revoked.

“With the passports revoked, it means they are illegal immigrants in the country they are residing now,” he said.

Mustafa then explained that the action to revoke their passports was not under any specific clause under the Immigration Act as the passport itself states that the Malaysian passport is owned by the government and can be revoked at any time.

“The passport is not given to everyone, it is only a privilege. If we give it, we can revoke it as well.”

 

The only way for them to return to Malaysia is by obtaining emergency certificates which can be obtained at the respective Malaysian embassies, said Mustafa.

“They can appeal for the emergency certificates, if they deserve them, they will get them,” he explained on the certificate, which functions like a passport although with certain limitations in that it can only be used for one journey.

Mustafa said the two could also appeal against the revocation of their passports if they wanted to do so.

When asked whether they would be arrested should they return back to the country, Mustafa said it was not in the Immigration Department’s jurisdiction to do so.

Answering a question on why action to revoke their passports had taken time, Mustafa said they had decided to do so after Tan in particular had gone overboard.

“This shows how the government has been considerate in this matter,” he said.

Tan, 26, first entered the limelight when he faced disciplinary action from the National University of Singapore for the sex blog he maintained with partner Vivian Lee.

The two had on July 18, 2013 claimed trial to three charges under the Film Censorhip Act, Sedition Act and the Penal Code.

Tan skipped bail and fled to the United States to seek asylum.

Ali, on the other hand, had sought asylum in Sweden after four arrests and several charges under the Sedition Act.