RANAU: The Muslim community can achieve progress with the spirit of ownership within the community members.
The incumbent Karanaan Assemblyman, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, said the spirit of ownership towards religious buildings such as mosques and suraus allows the buildings to be maintained and in good condition.
He also encouraged the founders of mosques, suraus and other religious buildings to realise a construction by seeking funds other than government funds.
He added that there are some mosques and suraus that are not maintained properly like damaged structure and dirty toilets – but no one wants to fix them.
“Why is this happening? Because many Muslims consider mosques and suraus to belong to the government and not to the community. Some wait for the people’s representatives to come and provide allocations.
“This is an attitude that is not good. We should follow the example of non-Muslim communities who build buildings on their own initiatives where they maintain the cheerfulness and repair of their houses of worship.
“Therefore, we also need to practice such attitude on not relying too much on government contributions, then there will be a sense of ownership towards our mosques and suraus,” he said.
Masidi, who is also former Sabah Finance Minister, said this when officiating the Opening of Maahad Al Tahfiz Bayu Syahadah Kg Bitoon Ranau, recently.
He congratulated the tahfiz house manager for being able to establish the centre through his own efforts without receiving any assistance from the government.
“But this, for me, as a Muslim, is actually a challenge that will make us more mature and independent. We hope that initiatives and efforts like this will be an example for others,” he said.
Masidi hopes that everyone involved in the construction of Maahad Al Tahfiz Bayu Syahadah Kg Bitoon Ranau will have a sense of ownership towards the building.
At the event, he announced an assistance of RM80,000 for the tahfiz management for the purpose of concreting the road leading to the school and other purposes.
According to him, the donation was approved before the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly and was only announced at the ceremony.
Also present were Ranau Member of Parliament Datuk Jonathan Yasin, incumbent Assemblyman-elect Datuk Hjh Amisah Yassin, Organising Chairman Johnny Yundang, Chairman and owner of Tahfiz Ustaz Nazrey Johani and others.
