Warisan candidate vows to prove he is not a terrorist

SABAH POLLS | A Warisan candidate running in the Sabah state election has vowed to prove that he was never a terrorist.

Alias Sani, who is contesting the Sekong state seat, reportedly said that while it was true he had previously been arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) over his alleged connection with the Jemaah Islamiyah terror organisation, he had never supported terrorism.

"I was suddenly arrested, without trial, for allegedly funding a wrong cause. I was detained without any trial, it was only a preventive act. I do not support terrorism.

"Whatever the name or race is, I am a Muslim who loves peace," he said yesterday, as reported by Malay daily Sinar Harian.

Alias was commenting on a photo of him, which had gone viral on social media, saying that he was once arrested under the preventive law after being a wanted person for allegedly being a member of the terrorist group.

The ISA has since been abolished.

According to Alias, the accusation against him had never been proven in a court of law.

"I will prove that I am not a terrorist," he told reporters at Kampung Bokara in Batu Sapi.

Alias also told reporters that he was now trying to contribute to the country by joining politics.

He likened himself to other politicians who have previously been detained under the ISA, including Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

"This is what I'm doing now," he added. - Mkini