Malaysian sex bloggers get passports released to shoot documentary
in Singapore
A Sessions Court in Kula Lumpur has granted controversial sex
bloggers Alvin Tan Jye Yee and Vivian Lee May Ling's application to
have their passports released.
The Star/Asia News Network report that Judge Abdul Rashid Daud made
the order Monday after Tan and Lee's counsel Chong Joo Tian told
the court that his clients needed to be in Singapore to shoot a
documentary film on their life there.
Judge Abdul Rashid later granted between May 18 and June 3 to
enable the couple, known as Alvivi, go to the island republic for
the purpose.
However, he instructed Tan and Lee not to make any press statement
on their ongoing case here to the Singapore press.
He also exempted both from reporting to the nearest police station
first day of each month pending the disposal of the case.
Earlier, Chong told the court that Tan and Lee had been made an
offer by Extreme Media Pte Ltd to shoot the documentary.
He said all the while, his clients had not breached the bail
condition imposed by the court, including reporting at the nearest
police station on the first day of each month.
Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin raised no
objection to the application.
However, Wan Shaharuddin applied that Tan and Lee be refrained from
commenting on their case while they were in the republic.
Chong interjected that the documentary was about their real life
in Singapore and not in Malaysia and was limited to the shooting
locations which included Orchard Road.
On July 18, last year, Tan, 26, and Lee, 25, claimed trial to three
charges under the Film Censorship Act, Sedition Act and Penal
Code.
However, one of the three charges which was under Section 298A of
the Penal Code, was struck out by the Court of Appeal on April
21.
The charges that still stand for the duo are for allegedly
publishing a photograph with the comment "Selamat Berbuka Puasa
(dengan bak kut teh...wangi, enak, menyelerakan)" which contained a
halal logo and possibly seditious statements, and for displaying
pornographic images on their blog.
The duo's postings last July 11 caused an uproar among Malaysians
of all races for their insensitivity, following which they removed
the posting and uploaded a new picture of them eating ketupat,
rendang and curry puffs.
However, the Facebook page was later removed entirely.
