Alvin-Ali will not be able to 'run' if their citizenship were not revoked: Dr Azmi

The decision not to revoke the citizenship of the controversial blogger Alvin Tan and political activist, Ali Abdul Jalil is proof of the government’s maturity in world's perspectives.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) geostrategist, Professor Dr Azmi Hassan said the move is an indication to the world in understanding human behaviour of the people in Malaysia.

“If we take a look at it, the purpose is to provide the space for the world in understanding in regardless how much we were criticised, the government still has the human behaviour even though both were act as a provocation.

“When the country is being considerate, the world will look at the situation where the country is still being open with this issue even though many were disappointed with Alvin and Ali’s behaviour,” he said in a phone interview here today.

Dr Azmi was responding to Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who told that the government will not revoke the citizenship of Tan and Ali as well as not planning to apply an extradition for both of them to Malaysia to face a legal action.

“Revoking a citizenship can’t be done without a serious consideration; there is a factor that influenced the government to bring their case here.

“The lawyer of Alvin and Ali also knew about this, if the citizenship of Alvin and Ali were revoked, both of them will be "gone" and this is what they have been waiting for,” he explained.

Responding to the same issue, Panel Pemikir of Special Affairs Department (JASA), Lokman Noor Adam told that the decision made by Ahmad Zahid was seen as a step not to overreact in a certain issue.

“Firm action must be taken to anybody who is trying to create a racial conflict and belittle the royal institution. However, we should not be trapped with the strategy of Alvin and Ali to seek a cheap publicity.

“We have been promoting both of them way too much. Once the action is taken, news about them should be stopped in order for their ambition to become the opposition hero are not fulfilled.

In the meantime, Chairman of National Youth Lawyer Committee, Syahredzan Johan in his Twitter explained, a person’s citizenship can’t be revoked as a reason of being disloyal for the majority people in the country.

Syahredzan also claimed that Article 25 in the Federal Institution applies to the citizen who is not a citizen by birth.

Article 25(1) (a) stated that the Federal Government may by order deprive of his citizenship any person who is a citizen by registration under Article 16A or 17 or a citizen by naturalization if satisfied that he has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal or disaffected towards the Federation.