KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — A Sarawak lawmaker is alerting state authorities to a visit by controversial columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah who is known for his provocative opinions, noting that Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said unsavoury characters were not welcome in the state.
Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How said he has notified state police commissioner Datuk Seri Muhammad Sabtu Osman, Immigration Department director Datu Robert Lian and Adenan’s political secretary, Abdullah Saidol, of both Ridhuan’s arrival and his concern.
The lecturer at the Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin’s Research Institute for Islamic Products and Civilisation is scheduled to speak at a mosque in Sematan tomorrow night.
“He (Ridhuan) was investigated by the Defence Ministry for allegedly teaching ‘ethnic cleansing’.
“The infamous lecturer and columnist questioned about the building of the Calvary Convention Centre in Bukit Jalil near the national capital, saying that Christians do not deserve a big place of worship given that they only make up 10 per cent of the country’s population,” See was quoted as saying by news portal Borneo Post.
“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.”
Sarawak and Sabah have autonomy over immigration and are empowered to bar entry to individuals that are deemed not welcome.
Restrictions usually apply to members and leaders of the federal opposition parties in Pakatan Rakyat.
Adenan previously said his administration would blacklist “extremists, religious bigots and racists” to prevent the state from being “infected” by racism and bigotry, following a visit by Perkasa’s Datuk Ibrahim Ali.
