NGOs: Bar Akmal, hate preachers from entering East Malaysia regions

 

With the Umno Youth chief refusing to back down on his calls to boycott KK Mart over the socks with the word “Allah” imprinted on them, two East Malaysia-based NGOs urged the Sarawak and Sabah governments to include Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh on their travel ban list.

In a joint statement, the NGOs also called upon Sarawak to ban several hate preachers from entering the territories namely:

1. Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah

2. Firdaus Wong

3. Zamri Vinoth

4. Syakir Nasoha

“The proposed immigration blacklist must include individuals who have incited protests and boycotts fuelled by racial and religious intolerance, created fear and insecurity, and promoted divisive attitudes.

“This call is aimed at safeguarding Sarawak and Sabah from potential disruptions and risks to social cohesion,” they said.

The joint statement was issued by Sarawak Associations for People (Sapa) publicity and information chief Peter John Jaban and Sabah Defenders of Ancestral Lands (Mopot) Atama Katama.

Yesterday, Umno supreme council member Bung Moktar Radin said the party leadership had ordered Akmal to stop playing up the socks issue and the calls to boycott KK Mart.

“The Umno president has asked Akmal (to stop it) and explained that KK Mart is not planning to persist with the matter, so we accept that (prolonging) the matter needs to stop,” he was reported as saying.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had also issued a final warning to all not to incite the rakyat over the controversy.

“All must be more responsible. Don’t let the same incident happen again, and I hope this is the final time I’m stressing this.

“Once again, I stress, no one should take advantage of this situation, including to incite the rakyat. I don’t want this matter to drag on,” His Majesty was reported as saying.

However, Akmal seemed to be firm on his decision, by asking “did the king ask to stop the boycott?”.

Anger towards KK Mart has led to three firebombing attempts on the convenience store’s outlets in Perak, Pahang and Sarawak.

Territories have autonomy

On that note, the NGOs emphasised that the territories have autonomy to regulate their own immigration affairs as prescribed under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

They added that the demand is being made in response to recent events that have threatened peace and harmony in Sarawak and Sabah.

Peter John Jaban calls for an update on the immigration blacklist for Sabah and Sarawak

“Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg must remember his predecessor, the late Adenan Satem’s efforts in barring ‘extremists, religious bigots and troublemakers’ from entering the territory.

“Hence, he should create a new list of individuals not welcomed in Sarawak to protect the interests of our region, maintain a peaceful environment, and uphold values of inclusivity, tolerance and social harmony,” they stressed. - Mkini