PDRM seeks Interpol's help to detain activist, sex blogger

The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has approached Interpol to detain activist Ali Abd Jalil and sex blogger Alvin Tan.

Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the application was made after the two tried to apply for political asylum abroad.

It has been reported that Ali has applied for asylum in Sweden while Alvin in the United States.

"Police have requested for a red notice through Interpol and are waiting for a reply from Interpol," he told reporters when attending a police chiefs seminar at the Police College in Cheras, here Tuesday.

Alvin, 26, and his girlfriend Vivian Lee, 25, were charged under the Sedition Act for a Ramadan greeting on their blog, which angered the Muslims in the country last year. Their case is still ongoing.

Ali also faces charges of sedition for insulting the country's royalty on his Facebook page.

On Internet gambling, Khalid said the police with the Attorney General's Chambers were devising a way for legal action to be taken against the owners of premises running illegal gambling centres.

"To tackle illegal gambling activities we will draft a law to take action against those who promote 'online gambling' including the owner of the premises involved," he said.

Yesterday, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said he would submit a proposal to the government to amend the existing act or create a new act to curb illegal gambling.

The media had previously expressed that in the opinion of some, the law relating to gambling namely the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 is considered 'outdated'.

The Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171) Local Authorities (LAs) has no powers to shut down, seize and forfeit the assets of owners of premises found to be carrying out illegal gambling activities.

In another development, Khalid said the police were still waiting for a justification from the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to obtain firearms for their enforcement personnel.

"We will first look at their justification in detail," he said.

The application was made following an incident where several SPAD enforcement officers were attacked by a group of men when the officers conducted a roadblock on Jalan Lapangan Terbang Padang Mat Sirat, Langkawi, on Friday.