Expat interest in politics in Malaysia

I'm an American and remain quite involved with following the events in my homeland. I'm registered to vote abroad, although my understanding is that US citizens abroad can only vote for State and Federal level offices in the State they were last resident within. Once one is registered one has to renew their registration annually. That's a bit of a hassle.

Different States have different rules for qualifying. Some allow one to fax or even use internet to submit the ballot, others require a mail in ballot which requires one the submit the ballot quite a bit before the election. Or one can drop of the ballot at an embassy/consulate and they will take it by diplomatic pouch to the US and put it in the public mail from there. You have to have the correct US postage or obtain a postage paid envelope from the FVAP website

https://www.fvap.gov/eo/overview/materials/formshttps://travel.state.gov/content/travel … oting.html

As to the philosophy "whatever happens, happens"...my view is that if one doesn't participate then one is allowing others (sometimes very poorly informed) to make the decision for you that will affect your life and others. I'm 68 and only have failed to vote twice in my life...both due to the difficulty of getting registered after a move.

The votes of USA citizen expats are already watered down immensely...there are 9 million taxpaying US expats living abroad...the equivalence of New Jersey in population...but we don't have any Senators or Congresspersons devoted for issues that relate to us (taxation, Medicare, foreign service representation). New Jersey has two Senators and 12 Congresspersons, by comparison. And most of us come from gerrymandered districts structured to get the incumbents or the highest number of the majority party in the state elected. Still there were some very close races in 2016 and 2018...a few hundred or thousand voters in a state can make a difference. That's why I vote.

As to local Malaysian politics...stay away from being in demos, political rallies, getting involved in political parties, etc. I even faced n accusation and hassle with Immigration because someone charge me with making an "aspersion on the character of the State Minister". I hadn't, and wouldn't (I sort of like the Minister actually...it was the other person who had insulted the SM - and PM- actually). Since the conversation was in private and there were no witnesses there was no real case. But it WAS a hassle and I still wonder if the false claim sits in my file. Almost everyone says "that's coffee shop talk".

But there you go...you can even try to avoid politics and someone with a grudge or personal issue can use that as a cudgel in a state where there are laws against freedom of political discourse. Ditto with blasphemy or the lése majesté laws (not insulting the the royal family) law in Thailand. People can simply accuse one of violating these laws and that can be sufficient for creating huge issues.

My MM2H letter states "You are strictly forbidden from participating in activities sensitive to local people, politics, missionary (sic) and activities that are provocative, instigative in nature, and sensitive that could be a threat to the security of the country."

Now a legal scholar would point out that most of those words are extremely vague..."participating in activities sensitive to local people". Two local people could complain you have a pet dog in a well fenced area where starts run around the kampong at will. But they don't like you keeping a dog.

Or they could find out you are a Johnson or Trump supporter...or conversely Obama or Corbin. They don't like a particular version of US or UK politics and discussing your views at a bar with fellow expats.

Activities that are "provocative in nature"...arguing that you've been overcharged for a bill? "Instigative in nature"...you should have known that demanding a refund would have instigated a fight.

Is a discussion about Christianity in a group that happens to contain a Muslim or Hindu "missionary" in nature? Or an atheist or agnostic saying (after being asked) why they don't believe in god? Neither is asking people to sign up for their faith or lack of it) but it could be "provocative" in terms of getting the person to think and compare religions. One could say education and knowledge is provocative by its very nature.

"Why do you believe in evolution?" Provocative?

Now a really good lawyer would note that all of those restrictions lack an  "OR" cause and are terminated by "AND sensitive that could be a threat to the security of the country."

So the prosecution would have to establish that the act or instigation or provocation was a real threat to the survival and security of Malaysia. Make sure anyone that threatens you with expulsion is aware of that last clause and that they will have to prove you are a threat to the existence of Malaysia. And that you will sue them for the costs of the legal assistance you need and recommend they are liable to the costs for the wasting the Courts time.