Prominent Malaysian newspaper columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah has said he was 'treated like a terrorist' while trying to enter Singapore recently and that he and his friend were eventually denied entry to the country.
"I was treated like a terrorist. My photograph and thumbprint were taken," the Malaysian university teacher wrote in his weekly column in Malay-language daily Sinar Harian, the Independent reported.
He said the incident happened at Singapore's Woodlands immigration checkpoint.
"After more than two hours of questioning, I received a letter saying I was not allowed to go there. There was no reason given. But I am confident that it was due to my comments on the 'ultra kiasu', he wrote.
He describes 'ultra kiasu' as the Malay Chinese trait of 'never wanting to lose'. Tee is a vocal critic of the Chinese minority in Malaysiaa, and calls them racist.
Tee has controversially opposed the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia and supported the boycott of Chinese business in Malaysia.
Tee, a Chinese Muslim convert, writes the column titled 'Know the True Enemies of Islam'.
The controversial author had written in a newspaper column in 2013 that Malaysia should have waged war with Singapore decades ago, a comment condemned by national parties including Barisan Nasional.
In the latest article he criticised Singapore government saying it doesn't give decision-making positions or posts in sectors like the police, immigration and army.
Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority gave no information regarding Tee's claims, saying it does not comment on individual cases for reasons of confidentiality.
"A visitor's entry into Singapore is neither automatic nor a right. Each case is assessed on its own merits. Visitors must fulfil our entry requirements before they can be considered for entry. Those who are ineligible for a Visit Pass will be refused entry," the authorities told TODAY.
