Borneo activists: “Bar UMNO Youth chief, controversial preachers from entering Sarawak”

 

BORNEO states activists Peter John Jaban and Atama Katama have urged Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to update the state’s immigration blacklist by barring “extremists, religious bigots and troublemakers” from entering the state.

The duo said this is vital to protect the interests of Sarawak and Sabah by maintaining a peaceful living environment while upholding the values of inclusivity, tolerance and social harmony.

“The proposed updated immigration blacklist includes UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and Muslim preachers comprising Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, Firdaus Wong Wai Hung, Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu and Shakir Nasoha,” Jaban and Katama pointed out in a media statement.

“This is an effort to retain the peaceful situation in Sarawak as the late former chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem had included two more names in the immigration blacklist – PERKASA chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali and Sungai Besar UMNO division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Yunus.”

Jaban who is the Sarawak Associations for People Aspirations (SAPA) publicity & information chief described the call as timely for it emphasises the need to include individuals who have contributed to the escalation of racial and religious tensions as well as social discord in the country.

Peter John Jaban

Atama Katama

This demand is in response to recent events that have threatened peace and harmony in Sarawak and Sabah.

Recall that Jaban who is Sarawak’s ‘most active’ social activist has reminded Sarawakian Malays not to be carried away with subversive propaganda orchestrated by their Peninsula brethren in the wake of the unexpected Molotov cocktail attack at the Jalan Satok KK Super Mart outlet in Kuching on Sunday (March 31).

This could be the key basis for barring Dr Akmal who has been the chief instigator of the blanket boycott of the entire 881 outlets of the 24-hour convenience store chain while along the way spewing hatred and discord in what he claimed to be “in the quest to defend Islam”.

What is even more saddening is that the unremorseful Merlimau state assemblyman has defied the so-called final warning from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim King of Malaysia who wanted an immediate stop to all forms of incitement and instigation pertaining to the Allah inscription on socks controversy.

“This call for an updated immigration blacklist aims to safeguard Sarawak and Sabah from potential disruptions and risks to social cohesion,” asserted Jaban who is also the Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF) deputy president.

“Among the reasons that the state government often used to prevent certain individuals from entering Sarawak was their potential to undermine the harmony of the multi-racial and multi-religious state.” (Editor’s Note: Sarawak is the state with the highest percentage of Christians in Malaysia and the only state with a Christian majority.)

Added Katama who is the Sabah Defenders of Ancestral Lands (MOPOT Sabah) president: “This call for an updated immigration blacklist aims to protect the interests of Sarawak and Sabah, maintain a peaceful environment and to uphold the values of inclusivity, tolerance and social harmony.” – Focus Malaysia