KUCHING: Sarawak will not ban Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh from entering the state.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Hamzah said it was unnecessary to immediately prohibit individuals from entering Sabah or Sarawak for expressing dissenting opinions.
“Why take such measures? If they are Malaysian citizens, they have the right to travel to any part of Malaysia,” he told FMT today.
However, he said, if anyone came to incite unrest and pit the people against the government, or to stir up hatred on religion, race or the monarchy, and then indeed their entry into the state should be prevented.
Karim was commenting on the demand of Sarawak and Sabah activists that both states ban Akmal and four others, accusing them of fuelling racial and religious tensions and causing social discord.
The other four include independent speakers and preachers Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, Firdaus Wong, Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu and Syakir Nasoha.
Earlier yesterday, Karim called on Akmal to end his KK Mart boycott campaign, saying his actions were detrimental to the country.
The controversy began on March 13 after photographs of socks featuring the word “Allah” at a KK Mart outlet in Bandar Sunway went viral on social media.
Although the company issued an apology, Akmal has persisted in advocating a nationwide boycott of the convenience store chain.
KK Mart’s founder and director Chai Kee Kan and Loh Siew Mui have claimed trial to intentionally wounding the religious feelings of Muslims by selling the socks.
