No obstacles but Ebit Lew needs to follow protocol - Semporna District Office

However, according to Semporna District Officer, Suhaimi Ejip, he must first inform the purpose of his visit to the relevant parties as the host in the district.

Suhaimi said he understood the sincere intentions of Ebit but his office did not receive any information from the independent preacher himself.

"I as the host welcome his arrival and appreciate it. But when we are entering the 'house', we have to knock on the door first, but he did not come to the Semporna District Office.

"On the other hand, he only informed his itinerary through his personal assistant and not meeting face to face to explain the purpose (of his visit).

“The department that has the authority to allow individuals or agencies to enter the district is the District Office," he told Sinar Harian on Tuesday.

Suhaimi said the matter should follow the protocol, namely the application to erect a structure should go through the process under the Land Ordinance Chapter 68 (land application) first for the purpose of building an Al-Quran and Fardu Ain (KAFA) class in the island area.

"We give moral support to him as a Muslim but for the construction of settlements, it is under the supervision of Sabah Parks (TTS).

"If Ebit were to go through the Assistant Collector of Land Revenue (PPHT), they also need to refer to the District Office.

“If making a temporary hut we may allow it at discretion but if establishing a KAFA class, it is permanent and the island has its owner or heir," he said.

In this regard, Suhaimi advised those who want to do such a thing should avoid taking reckless action by preparing construction items without the prior permission of the landlord.

Meanwhile, Semporna District Police Chief, Superintendent Sabarudin Rahmat when asked to comment on the issue of Ebit being not allowed to enter the island due to security issues, said the matter was under the management and control and responsibility of the TTS.

"No (not a security issue). It is just more about the issue of permission to enter the gazetted area and under management and control as well as areas of responsibility of the TTS," he said.

Earlier, a statement from the independent preacher through his Facebook apologising to the people on the islands in Semporna that he converted to Islam, had gone viral.