SINGAPORE has barred two foreign Islamic preachers from entering the country to preach during religious-themed sea cruises, the Interior Ministry said today.

The pair had earlier applied to preach in the city-state but their applications were rejected. However, authorities later learned they planned to preach aboard cruise ships in late November.

“They will not be allowed to get around the ban by preaching instead on cruise ships which operate to and from Singapore,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

One of the preachers, Ismail Menk, also known as Mufti Menk, “has been known to preach segregationist and divisive teachings” while the other, Haslin Baharim, “has expressed views that promote disharmony between Muslims and non-Muslims”, it said without giving their nationalities.

Singapore also today banned four foreign Islamic books containing what it called “undesirable and harmful teachings”.

The Information Ministry said the books’ teachings “can cause social distancing, distrust, hatred and even violence among people of different faiths and religious views” in the ethnically diverse nation.

Possession, distribution and failure to surrender copies of the books to the police will be an offence effective tomorrow, it said.

“The threat of extremism is real and should not be taken lightly,” said Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim.

“The government strongly condemns the use of such publications to espouse destructive ideologies and promote enmity between communities.”

The books were published in Indonesia between 2011 and 2016. – AFP, October 30, 2017.