Sabah's ability to co-exist peacefully serves a model for others

 By Olivia Miwil - December 20, 2021 @ 11:26am

Dancers at the recent Christmas Day Celebration organised by the Sabah Cultural Board in collaboration with the National Unity and Integration Department, and Sabah Bumiputera Christian Association at a hotel here. - Pic courtesy of Sabah Tourism Board.

KOTA KINABALU: The spirit of religious tolerance must be protected at all costs to maintain long-term peace and harmony in the country.

State Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said Sabah's ability to co-exist peacefully could serve as a model for other states and the world to follow.

"Despite our cultural and religious differences, we are known to be able to live together in peace and harmony. Our ability to co-exist harmoniously is important and we must protect this.

"Sabah has a high spirit of religious tolerance and this is in line with the concept of Keluarga Malaysia that transcends religious, racial, and ethnic boundaries," he said at the launching of a Christmas Day Celebration at the Hilton Hotel here yesterday.

The Christmas Day Celebration was organised by the Sabah Cultural Board in collaboration with the National Unity and Integration Department, and Sabah Bumiputera Christian Association.

The Sabah United Chinese Association, Sabah Hindu Sangam Association, Sabah Singh Sabha Association, Sabah India Association, and Sabah Council of Churches also participated in enlivening the event.

Bagkuai, who is also chairman of Sabah Tourism Board, said festive celebrations such as Christmas are an important platform for the people to celebrate togetherness.

"Such is the draw for tourists to come to Sabah to witness first-hand the state's distinctive community. This is the concept of Keluarga Malaysia that the nation needs, especially in Sabah to ensure that the Sabah Maju Jaya development agenda is realised in the best possible way.

"I hope that our national leadership will continue to encourage multi-faith and multi-cultural celebrations to enhance understanding and cooperation with one another," he added.

During the event, a group of dancers delighted the audience with their special holiday spirit performance.

Their performance is a celebration of unity and diversity, with dancers representing Sabah's multicultural and multi-religious community.

Present at the event were Sabah Cultural Board deputy chairman Stanis Buandih; Sabah Cultural Board general manager Mackey Apison; Sabah Christian Bumiputera president Rev. Amangkil Jellin Wadak; and Sabah National Unity and Integration deputy director Jesicca Basat, among others.