KUALA LUMPUR – The United Kingdom is still considered a safe destination for Malaysian students and travellers, despite ongoing riots taking place in various parts of the country, assures British high commissioner Ailsa Terry.
The high commissioner to Malaysia affirmed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statement that a “tiny mindless minority of rioters” have capitalised on a July 29 Southport stabbing incident as a “pretext” to commit criminal and violent disorder.
“(Starmer) has been clear that rioters will face the full force of the law, including online actors, and that far-right hatred has no place in our communities,” Terry said in a statement today.
“I want to reassure Malaysian students and travellers that the UK remains a safe destination.”
She added that the UK Home Office is providing communities affected by the riots with “vital support and reassurance”, including strengthening security around mosques, schools and other public spaces as needed.
Meanwhile, in social media posts, London Mayor Sadiq Khan stressed that the capital has “zero tolerance” for racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism or any form of hate, adding that it prides itself on being “open, diverse and welcoming of all faiths and backgrounds”.
During the Embassy Education Conference in London last month, UK Education Secretary Bridget Philipson said the UK values and wants more international students.
The new Labour government, she said, not only values international students’ contribution to its universities but also their input to the communities and culture there.
In an urgent notice on August 4, Wisma Putra said Malaysians residing in or travelling to the UK are urged to stay away from protest areas, remain vigilant and follow the latest updates and guidance provided by local authorities.
The recent unrest in the UK comes after the Southport knife attack, which saw the deaths of three girls. Following the incident, online misinformation on the attack claimed that the suspected perpetrator, who has since been confirmed to be British-born, was an asylum seeker.
While UK police have reportedly yet to disclose a motive for the stabbing attack, anti-immigration riots have taken place in more than a dozen towns and cities across Britain, with far-right groups targeting mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers.
Malaysian Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the riots have sent a clear message that disinformation or the deliberate spread of fake news cannot be taken lightly.
Fahmi, who is also the government’s spokesperson, said Putrajaya takes note of the call by UK MPs on an urgent need to look into issues related to the spread of false information. – August 8, 2024
