PKR rep cries foul over Ridhuan Tee’s talk in Sarawak

National Defence University Malaysia lecturer Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah will speak in Sarawak tomorrrow, drawing protest from a PKR assemblyman in the state. – Facebook pic, December 25, 2014.A public talk by lecturer and television host Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah in Kuching tomorrow has drawn protest from a PKR state assemblyman, who said the organisers were insensitive for inviting the controversial speaker.

“This is definitely sending out a wrong signal to all Sarawakians as the chief minister has been repeating himself openly that this state will not welcome racists and religious bigots and extremists," Batu Lintang state assemblyman See Chee How was quoted by Borneo Post as saying.

Ridhuan, whose views on non-Malays have riled up critics, is scheduled to talk at a programme called "Jom Bersantai Sematan 2014-2015", to be held in Sematan, the seat represented by Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

See said he had notified state police chief Datuk Seri Muhammad Sabtu Osman, state Immigration Department director Datu Robert Lian, and Adenan's political secretary Abdullah Saidol to register his complaint over Ridhuan's presence in the state.

See cited a series of remarks which Ridhuan made through his column in Malay daily Sinar Harian, as well as his statements attacking non-Muslim communities.

“He used his columns to attack the vernacular schools and the non-Malay communities, warning that five million immigrants are ready to come to Malaysia and take their places," he said.

See (pic, left) recalled that the state immigration authorities had in the past barred several activists and opposition figures from entering Sarawak.

In March this year, several PKR leaders were barred from entering the state to join the Balingian by-election campaign.

Then PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, Batu MP Tian Chua and Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin were barred on arrival at the Sibu airport. In 2011, former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan was also barred entry, and her bid to challenge the notice from immigration was denied by the Federal Court in 2012.

“I am therefore obliged to alarm the relevant authorities of the possible entry of this controversial personality and hope that appropriate actions will be taken to ensure that the peaceful and harmonious living of our multi-racial society will not be risked,” said See, as reported by Borneo Post.

- TMI