Upko secretary-general Donald Peter Mojuntin said Sabah has its own government to shield the state from anything that could disrupt the existing harmony among the people.
“The incident which happened in Kuala Lumpur should not have been linked with the Kaamatan harvest festival in Sabah.
“Kaamatan has been declared an official celebration with a two-day public holiday in the state. The question of banning alcohol during the celebration was never raised.
“This is because the level of understanding and acceptance among our multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural people is very high in Sabah, as well as in Sarawak,” he told FMT.
Mojuntin was commenting on the statement made by Chan on Sunday, where he said at the rate religious radicalisation is happening in the country, cultural celebrations like Kaamatan in Sabah, where consumption of rice wine is part and parcel of the programme, might be banned one day.
Chan said this in response to the uncertainty over the holding of a beer festival, in conjunction with Oktoberfest, said to be planned at the One Utama shopping mall in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
A beer festival planned earlier in Kuala Lumpur had also been cancelled. Police said this was for security reasons as militants may target the event.
The Sri Tanjong assemblyman also said it was simply absurd that religious extremists now are going to the extent of telling non-Muslims what they can and cannot do, particularly in terms of consuming alcoholic beverages.
“Would Kaamatan be banned one day too?” Chan had asked before adding that such a move would contravene the guarantees contained in the Oath Stone.
In the Oath Stone (Batu Sumpah), the people of Sabah, during the formation of Malaysia, had agreed to be part of the new federation, with one of the conditions being that the federal government must respect the natives’ traditions and culture.
However, Mojuntin dismissed Chan’s statement as being politically motivated.
“He just wants to badmouth the Barisan Nasional government. But there are things that should not be politicised especially if the issue could threaten the social fabric of our community.
“Instead, we should appreciate the peace, stability and harmony that we are enjoying in our state now,” he said.