S’pore bars two preachers
Malaysian among duo denied entry over divisive teachings
SINGAPORE: A Malaysian was among two foreign Islamic preachers who have been barred from entering the country over their hardline teachings, which run counter to Singapore’s multicultural and multireligious values.
Haslin Baharim has advocated that in multicultural and multireligious societies, non-Muslims should be made subservient to Muslims.
The other, Zimbabwean Ismail Menk, has asserted that it is blasphemous for Muslims to greet believers of other faiths during festivals such as Christmas or Deepavali.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said yesterday that both men had been engaged to preach on a religious-themed cruise departing Singapore on Nov 25 and returning on Nov 29, but would not be allowed to enter Singapore.
It said the decision was made in consultation with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), Singapore Tourism Board and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
“Ismail Menk and Haslin Baharim had previously had their Miscellaneous Work Pass applications to preach in Singapore rejected.
“They will not be allowed to get around the ban by preaching instead on cruise ships which operate to and from Singapore,” said the MHA in its statement.
Muis, announcing in a separate statement that it had not supported the duo’s applications to preach in Singapore, said their teachings “run counter to the values Singaporean Muslims uphold dearly that can contribute to a progressive and thriving religious life in Singapore”.
The barring of both men comes a month after two Christian preachers were denied entry by the MHA for making denigrating and inflammatory comments on other religions.
They had applied for short-term work passes to speak in Singapore.
Government leaders have cautioned against foreign preachers whose extremist teachings can spread ill will among people of different religions and threaten social harmony and cohesion.
Ismail and Haslin have both preached in the region and have built a following online. They were to have been part of a five-day cruise from Singapore to Banda Aceh, Indonesia, organised by Malaysian-based Islamic Cruise.
The trip was advertised on the cruise company’s website as a “spiritual voyage to Banda Aceh”.
A spokesman for the company told The Straits Times it respected the Singapore government’s decision and had always followed the laws of the countries that its cruises visited.
He said his company was not aware that Ismail had been barred from entering Singapore in the past.
The company had organised seven other cruises from Singapore, which featured other religions teachers, without any problems, he added. — The Straits Times/Asia News Network