Ridhuan Tee didn't show up at Kuching Airport, directive to bar him from entering Sarawak issued two days ago

KUCHING, Dec 26, 2014: Controversial lecturer Ridhuan Tee Abdullah did not show up at the Kuching International Airport this morning, contrary to an earlier  report by the national news agency Bernama.

 It is understood that he was told not to come to Sarawak at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at the Immigration counter.

Ridhuan Tees

He was supposed to give a religious talk in Lundu this evening, but it was strongly opposed by Sarawakians who believed that his presence and the content of his speech would cause anger among the people.

His scheduled talk was part of the Bersantai Sematan programme organised by PBB Tanjung Datu branch and Sematan sub-district office.

Chief Minister  Adenan Satem was said to be not in favour of the likes of Ridhuan Tee and other religious bigots and extremists from entering Sarawak.

Adenan had also ordered the cancellation of a function at Masjid Jamek in Lundu at which Ridhuan Tee was supposed to deliver a religious speech.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that Chief Minister's Office had issued a directive two days ago to the state Immigration Department not to allow  Ridhuan Tee to enter Sarawak.

State Immigration deputy director Hamfatullah Syawal Hamdan confirmed that the departmemt had received the directive.

Meanwhile, See Chee How said whether Ridhuan Tee Abdullah was advised not to come in at Kuala Lumpur International Airport or that was turned back at Kuching International Airport, the important thing is Sarawak has autonomy over immigration.

"The immigration autonomy for Sarawak is one of the most important safeguards of the rights and interests of Sarawakians, sacrosanct to all Sarawakians and must be respected by Malaysians as it goes to the very foundation of the formation of Malaysia," the State PKR vice chairman said in a statement.

 

He added: "While we welcome the barring of Ridhuan Tee from entering Sarawak, we are alarmed and regretted that this controversial personality was actually invited by a branch of the main State Barisan Nasional component party and that he was to be the main speaker in a public ceramah in the Chief Minister’s constituency."

See, who is also the Batu Lintang State lawmaker, said PKR has expressed its full backing for Chief Minister Adenan Satem and the state government to ban racist and religious bigots and extremists from entering Sarawak, but it is against the abuse of such prerogative and arbitrarily denying entry of elected political leaders or activists who are entering the state for legitimate political purposes.

"We are most concerned that such prerogative powers are often abused for the BN’s political purposes, rejecting the entry of opposition political party leaders, Members of Parliament and activists who are entering Sarawak for legitimate civil and socio-political activities.

"In the other words, the exercise of such prerogative powers must be legitimate, in according to our laws in this country, particularly the Federal Constitution and the Immigration Act.

"To show that the exercise of the prerogative powers is legitimate and not arbitrarily, our state government must be opened with the list of those who are barred from entering the state and that reasons are given for refusal of their entry.

" State PKR will assist the state government in their compilation of such a list, suggesting the names of those to be included in the list and the grounds thereof.

"To continue to safeguard the interests of the state and to improve governance, it is one of the obligations of all political parties in the state to work together on such important issues as our immigration autonomy and the preservation and use of our state resources," See said.