Content of letter to Immigration Department twisted out of context, claims YSS chief
BAU: The Yatt Society Sarawak ( YSS) president Francis James Noew is puzzled as to why their letter to the Sarawak Immigration Department has been taken out of context by an online news portal.
He said the online news played on religious sentiments, which was not what YSS was trying to convey in their letter sent to Sarawak Immigration Department on Thursday.
“The article is misleading as it portrays YSS, a nongovernmental organisation, as being Islamophobic. Let me be clear – there is not one word in the letter that mentions a certain religion,” said Francis when met here yesterday.
The letter, clarified Francis, as merely meant to seek assistance from the Immigration Department to look into the rising number of Pakistanis in Bau District, as well as to check on their business practises which the villagers had alleged to be ‘dubious’.
He also said following the submission of the letter to the department, a raid was conducted on this town on Thursday morning where three Pakistani men were detained due to their passports having expired.
Asked on other allegations stated in the letter such as claim of sexual harassments, Francis said a sister of a victim voiced out the issue through a WhatsApp group.
In the WhatsApp message, she said the victim agreed to make an outfit for a Pakistani man, who came to their house in Kampung Grogo.
While taking his measurements, she claimed that the Pakistani touched her sister’s leg inappropriately, which made her (victim) feel uncomfortable.
“We would try to find the victim and assist her lodge a police report about this incident,” said Francis, adding that the victim had not come forward due to shame.
Touching on the photos depicting Pakistani door-to- door salesmen selling furniture items, mattresses and carpets here, Francis said it was rather odd as they would operate only during office hours.
“They ( Pakistani salesmen) would come when they know that the men of the house are at work,” said Francis, adding that this had fuelled the villagers’ allegation about the Pakistani men flirting with the local womenfolk.