Who invited Ridhuan?
(The Rakyat Post) – Sarawak barred the entry of Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah here yesterday, but this move has raised another question – who invited the controversial academician in the first place?
The state Immigration Department, in a statement to Bernama, confirmed that Ridhuan was denied entry into the state yesterday, adding that the directive had come from the Chief Minister’s Office.
Land Development Minister cum PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Masing believed it was a wise decision on the state government’s part to bar bigots like Ridhuan from entering the state.
“Sarawak cannot afford, nor should it tolerate people with extreme social, political, or religious views. We have been living in peace over the years not by chance, but by design. Therefore, no bigots should be allowed to disrupt such peace,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Masing also believed many Sarawakians knew of Ridhuan and his thoughts on certain issues – which had not been well accepted by many here.
However, he was intrigued as to who in Sarawak had invited Ridhuan to come and lecture its people on his thoughts.
“Whoever the person or group is, they are akin to ‘sleeper/cell’, or potential troublemakers set out to disturb social and religious peace of this country.
“I hope this group would cease inviting bigots like Ridhuan to Sarawak. Whatever their intention is, it is not good for Sarawak. I urge the relevant authorities to track this group, reminding them never to do it again,” Masing stressed.
In a similar sentiment, state PKR vice chairman See Chee How, who alerted the state government to Ridhuan’s scheduled entry, also expressed his concern.
“While we welcome the barring of Ridhuan from entering Sarawak, we are also alarmed by it. We regret to find out that this controversial personality was actually coming to the state at the invitation of one of the key Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties and that he was to be the main speaker at a public ceramah (talk) in the Chief Minister’s constituency (Tanjung Datu).”
Ridhuan, a senior lecturer at the National Defence University and also a columnist ‘infamously’ known for making numerous controversial statements, was invited to speak at Masjid Daerah Kecil Sematan, as part of the Jom Bersantai Sematan programme running from Dec 26 to 31.
A report by Utusan Sarawak said the event was organised by PBB Tanjung Datu and Sematan Sub-District Office.
See said while PKR was all-out in backing Adenan and the state government in banning racists, religious bigots, and extremists from coming to Sarawak, it was also against the abuse of such prerogative.
