Ridhuan Tee barred from Sarawak

Controversial lecturer Ridhuan Tee Abdullah (pic) was denied entry into Sarawak shortly after arriving at the Kuching International Airport this morning. 

Sarawak deputy director of Immigration Hamfatullah Syawal Hamdan told Bernama that they had received instructions from the Chief Minister's Office not to allow Ridhuan Tee entry. 

Ridhuan, a lecturer at Universiti Pertahanan Malaysia was scheduled to deliver a speech at a religious function at the Lundu mosque tonight. 

A source told Bernama that Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem had disagreed with Ridhuan's presence at the function in Lundu tonight.

"Hence, the organisers were told to cancel the event," the source told Bernama.

Yesterday, Batu Lintang state assemblyman See Chee How accused the organisers of being insensitive by inviting Ridhuan to deliver a speech.

“This is definitely sending out a wrong signal to all Sarawakians as the chief minister has repeatedly said this state will not welcome racists and religious bigots and extremists."

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

Ridhuan, whose views on non-Malays have riled up critics, was scheduled to speak at a programme called "Jom Bersantai Sematan 2014-2015", to be held in Sematan, the seat represented by Adenan.

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

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

See 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 denied entry, and her bid to challenge the notice from immigration was denied by the Federal Court in 2012.

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

- TMI