Despite being elected as a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) member, Malaysia appears to be unapologetically condoning the rise of extremism, religious intolerance and the stifling of free speech at home.

Speaking in Parliament today, Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang asked if the nation had “taken the world for a ride” to secure 187 votes to be elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC.

“Malaysia is not living up to the high international standards of moderation which Najib has set for the world despite the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s repeated statement that Malaysia’s election into the UNSC for the third time with such high votes was testimony of world recognition of Malaysia as a role model for other countries in the practice of moderation,” said Lim.

He highlighted recent cases where the right to free speech were curiously sidestepped to favour extreme views.

He exampled the case of Ali Abdul Jalil, who said that he had fleed the country to seek asylum in Sweden, because he feared oppression by authorities and gangsters.

Ali was previously charged under the Sedition Act for his comments about the monarchy in a Facebook post, and says that he is being subjected by threats by many quarters; forcing him to fear for his life.

“The police, gangsters, Perkasa, Malay right-wing groups, Umno groups are all looking for me, some of them have threatened to kill me and to beat me.

“Some even say that I am a traitor and I am not supposed to be treated like a person.

“Most of the Malay groups (such as) Perkasa are saying that I am rubbish and the police are not protecting me,” said Ali.

However, he said that he will return to the country once UMNO collapses and the government of Malaysia changes. “I wish I could go back.”

He said that he is still a Malaysian who is proud to be a Malaysian because it is the place he calls home.

In Parliament today, Lim Kit Siang expressed sympathy for the activist, asking “which MP dare to say he is more Malaysian than Ali, that he would not flee the country for political asylum in another country if he cannot get justice in the country and is in fear for the safety of his life?”.

He also said cited another example, of sex blogger Alvin Tan, who had similarly decided to seek asylum in the United States of America after facing charges under the Sedition Act and the Film Censorship after controversial internet uploads.

“I do not condone the offences of Ali and Alvin if they had committed offences, but something is very wrong and sick with our nation when they have to flee the country to seek asylum in a foreign land because they won’t get justice in Malaysia and even more serious, in fear of their lives,” Lim added.

The Gelang Patah MP who is also the DAP Parliamentary leader told the floor of MPs today that never in the history of other Prime Ministers of Malaysia did a Malaysian have to resort to fleeing the country for fear of their safety.

Another person subjected to scorn and hatred and intolerance recently was the organizer of the “I want to touch a dog” event, Syed Azmi Alhabshi, who said that he received death threats aside from the hateful messages on social media. Extremists views flooding the cyberworld include the belief that the event was a ploy to insult Islam and sway Muslims from the righteous path of the religion.

Syed Azmi’s report with the Malaysian Communications Multi-Media Commission (MCMC) on the barrage of threats he received was dismissed by Minister and Communications and Multimedia Shabery Cheek, who had instead passed the buck to the police to handle the case. Along with the MCMC report, Syed Azmi had also reported the issue to the police and is awaiting justice.

Lim Kit Siang criticized the double standards in government practices, asking why the MCMC had acted immediately when Kedah Menteri Besar Mukriz Mahathir had received death threats online earlier this year. The blogger in that case was arrested within 24 hours of the police report.

“Moderation does not mean double standards in the upholding of law and order which undermines public confidence in the system of governance and justice in the country,” said Lim Kit Siang. -The Rocket