PARLIAMENT | Amid a climate of anti-migrant sentiments, including against refugees, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu has reminded the people that important figures in Islam were also once refugees.

This he said, included the Prophet Muhammad, who had to flee from Mecca to Madinah after his life came under threat.

Mohamad also cited Jaafar Abi Talib, who similarly led a group of persecuted Muslims out of Mecca to modern-day Ethiopia, to seek refuge in the Christian kingdom of Aksum.

"There are terrible words being said of refugees, threatening their...