KOTA KINABALU: Sabah must continue to uphold its culture of mutual respect and remain a model of racial and religious tolerance, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said on Saturday.
He said incidents of violence linked to racial and religious intolerance elsewhere in the world should serve as a reminder of the consequences when societies fail to manage differences with respect.
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Speaking when launching the Inanam Christmas Carnival at Inanam township, Joniston stressed that Sabahans must ensure religious and racial extremism never takes root in the State.
He said Sabah’s multiracial and multireligious make-up has long been a source of strength, reflected in communities that live, work and celebrate together, with the carnival’s theme, Saved by Grace, echoing shared values of compassion and kindness across faiths.
Joniston said this social harmony has contributed to Sabah’s stability and appeal, noting that the two-day carnival, co-organised by the City Hall (DBKK) and the Inanam Council of Churches, is part of a tradition held since 2015 and concludes on Sunday.
