Two preachers barred from entering S'pore
SINGAPORE: Two Islamic preachers engaged to preach on a religious-themed cruise next month will be barred from doing so, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement yesterday.
According to the ministry, both Ismail Menk — who is better known as Mufti Menk originally from Zimbabwe — and Malaysian citizen Haslin Baharim were engaged to preach on the cruise, which was set to sail from Singapore from Nov 25 to 29.
The two men will not be allowed to enter Singapore, MHA 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.
In a statement posted on its website, MHA said it has come to the Government's knowledge that they have been engaged to preach on a religious-themed cruise departing and ending in Singapore from Nov 25 to 29, 2017. Ismail Menk and Haslin had previously had their Miscellaneous Work Pass applications to preach in Singapore rejected, it said.
MFA noted that they will not be allowed to get around the ban by preaching instead on cruise ships which operate to and from Singapore.
According to the Ministry, Ismail Menk has been known to preach segregationist and divisive teachings.
For example, he preached that it is the biggest sin and crime for a Muslim to wish a non-Muslim Merry Christmas or Happy Deepavali, in short, that Muslims are not allowed to wish others happiness during the latter's religious festivals, it said.
Haslin meanwhile has expressed views that promote disharmony between Muslims and non-Muslims, whom he describes as "deviant".
Such divisive views breed intolerance and exclusivist practices that will damage social harmony, and cause communities to drift apart, said the Ministry.
MFA said they are unacceptable in the context of Singapore's multi-racial and multi-religious society.