Sabah activist Doris Jones, who is reportedly wanted for sedition over her alleged promotion of the secession of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia, has challenged the authorities to "try to catch her".
The Star Online reported that Jones whose whereabouts are currently unknown has no plans to return to Malaysia to face the charge, although she said she was initially unaware of any warrant of arrest issued against her.
She told the news portal that she was also unaware of any summons issued in her name last month to face a charge under the Sedition Act, which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Malaysian police last Wednesday.
She said it was up to the Malaysian authorities to use the proper channels to extradite her.
“They can try to get me in the United Kingdom, the European Union or maybe even Australia. They can try.
“I don’t think Malaysia has any extradition treaties with EU,” said the 46-year-old activist, without revealing her current location when she contacted The Star Online.
Its reporters had been trying to contact Jones via her Facebook account before she called its Kota Kinabalu office yesterday.
The portal reported that Jones was also coy when asked about details of herself.
“I am Doris Jones,” she said when asked if she was Doris Yapp Kim Youn from Labuan, the suspect named in the warrant of arrest issued by the Kota Kinabalu magistrate’s court.
Asked if she was still a Malaysian citizen, she replied: “I don’t want to answer that. I am from Sabah.”
It was reported that Jones had been calling for secession through social media, namely through the Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM) Facebook page.
It is widely believed that she is based in London, The Star Online reported.
Jones said that she contested in the May 2014 election for the European Parliament via the United Kingdom-based National Liberal Party on a platform of “self-determination”.
In a Google+ account under the name Doris Jones, it is stated that the owner of the online account "attended University of London and lived in the UK". The account is active and had a few days ago posted news related to the secession movement and action taken against those involved.
Jones, who has a Facebook account that proposes seceding Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia, has been wanted by the Malaysian police for several months.
In October last year, Sabah police expanded its investigation into her case. Last week, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman told the media that Doris Jones was also Doris Yapp Kim Youn.
Jalaluddin said police had put up an alert for her at all entry points in the country. He also said she had been abroad for some time.
The Star Online reported last week that Jones, who was little known, is believed to have married in the United Kingdom and that she had worked in a "legal circle”.
She is believed to have kept in touch with local non-governmental organisations through various social media channels, including Skype, to communicate with SSKM.
At least 14 activists in Tuaran and Kota Kinabalu were arrested earlier this month for allegedly seeking signatures from the public and distributing secessionist material. They have been released on police bail. – February 16, 2015.
0 comments :
Post a Comment