KUALA LUMPUR — Controversial columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah said on Monday (April 4) he had no qualms about publicly revealing how he was recently blocked from entering Singapore because he is not a terrorist.

Instead, the Muslim convert, who was writing in his weekly column in Sinar Harian, described himself as “terror”, a Malaysian slang that means “great”.

“I could have kept it a secret. Why did I reveal it? Was I sad? Craving sympathy? I was just exposing the ultra kiasu to open the eyes of Muslims,” he said, in an apparent reference to his being denied entry to Singapore.

“The ultra kiasu were very happy with the action,” he added. “But it is not a problem to me because I am ‘terror’, not a terrorist.”

“Ultra kiasu” is a term Tee initially used to label federal opposition party DAP, but he has since applied it to other groups including Christians and the Chinese in general as well as those he regards as against Islam.

He added that every time he writes his column or gives talks, it is never to “become more Malay than the Malays” but instead to show how “dangerous” the “ultra kiasu” can be.

“Because of that, they incessantly want to harp on diversity, for the sake of identity.

“I accept diversity but it must be based on history and identity,” he added.

In his March 21 column, Dr Tee claimed that he was treated like a terrorist by Singapore’s immigration officials when they recently refused to allow him into the republic.

Dr Tee also said that his photograph and thumbprint were taken at Singapore’s land checkpoint at Woodlands when he and a friend recently travelled to the neighbouring country on personal business.

He added that after two hours of questioning, he was given a letter informing him that he would not be allowed to enter Singapore but no reasons were given.

The controversial Muslim convert then alleged that it was likely because of his comments on the “ultra kiasu”. MALAY MAIL ONLINE