Not based on race, religion: CM
Published on: Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal assured that development plans for the people will not be based on race or religion but for the benefit of the people and the State."I have said this many times. I am Chief Minister of all Sabahans. I am focused that all our plans will not be based on race or religion," he said when officiating the opening of the 14th Kota Kinabalu Christmas Celebration (KKCC), here, Tuesday.Jointly organised by the Sabah Council of Churches (SCC) and City Hall (DBKK), the ongoing celebration themed "God's Blessing of Life", will be held in Padang Merdeka until Dec 14.
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Shafie assured that the Parti Warisan Sabah-led government remains committed to ensuring that the Sabah way of life of tolerance and mutual respect remains, and strengthened further to be pillar of society and state.He pointed out that Sabahans are the best example for religious tolerance and unity."I don't see it as a problem or a reason to divide us." Indeed tonight we see a large gathering of people, among whom are those not only from the various Christian groups, but also those who are Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or have other religious leanings," he said.
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He noted that the Kota Kinabalu Christmas Celebration is one big celebration of people from all beliefs."We must maintain this and be cautious of certain groups from inside or outside trying to break this harmonious relationship.
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"These people try to sow divide be it on religious grounds and racial or ethnic grounds. By, breaking our bond, they hope to push their personal political agenda," he said.He said Sabah is a truly unique State and that her greatest strength is her diversity."With over 32 ethnic and sub ethnic groups, we are able to bond together; living and working together as one family irrespective of our religious or ethnic backgrounds," he said.He said this unity comes very naturally to Sabahans because inter-ethnic and racial marriages irrespective of religious beliefs have bonded the people."As a Bajau from Semporna, my extended family has links to Kadanzandusuns, Muruts, Sungei, Chinese and many more ethnic groups of not only in Sabah but also Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. And my wife happens to come from Kedah," he said.He pointed out that this inter-ethnic relationship through mixed marriages brings the people all together.He added that it brings about greater understanding, mutual respect for each other and above all integration among families."Most of us here today, have mixed racial and ethnic and multi religious families that makes the people of our beloved state of Sabah truly unique."That is why Malaysians in Sabah have a high racial and religious tolerance."We see a diversity as our reason to be together as one…whether we are Muslims, Christians or Buddhist we have no problems with one another if we believe and respect everyone's right to their religious beliefs," he said.He said being a Muslim will not stop him from entering a church to pay his last respects to a friend of the Christian faith, or to attend a wedding if he was invited, adding that visiting a temple or kuil would be the same.He said as such the Warisan-led government will continue to build places of worship for all religions, as even the non-Muslims pay taxes."Once Sabah's finances are back on a sound footing I will extend financial support to the Pastors, and if that is against their religion, perhaps increase the annual allocation for the various religious groups," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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