However, unlike the opposition, they do not make public their intentions and efforts to the media.
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Kiulu assemblyman Joniston Bangkuai told FMT that when it came to the question of religion, PBS had always been consistent and the statement by Parti Warisan Sabah president Shafie Apdal that Christian leaders, including those in PBS, did not care, was a baseless accusation.
Shafie was quoted as saying that Christian leaders, including PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan, United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) president Bernard Dompok and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Joseph Kurup, had not spoken up on the “Allah” issue.
On the contrary, Bangkuai said PBS had already made its stand on the issue and expressed its disagreement with the ban on the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims in the state.
“I must ask Shafie though. Why didn’t he talk about all these when he was a minister? He never said, don’t disturb them (Christians) or something like that. Why now call us names?
“Now, he tries to be a champion of everything. Do not portray us like this because we know exactly what we are doing.
“He should ask himself: has he ever stood on our side before on this issue?
“Don’t use this just because you are desperate to get support from the non-Muslim community.”
Instead of trying to work up the people by using religious issues, Shafie should work on bridging the gap between people of different religions, Bangkuai said.
He pointed out that recently, in his constituency, a group of trainees from a vocational institute, including Muslims, helped spruce up a chapel in the district with no problem at all.
“Let’s promote acceptance and tolerance instead of stoking discord among us.
“A true leader should be doing that because by issuing statements on sensitive issues like this, what kind of solution do you think it would bring?”
Bangkuai also advised religious leaders in the state to come to the relevant authority in the government to have their problems solved.
Some people, he said, prefer to go to the opposition leaders, who will then go to the media to politicise the issue.
By going to the media, he said, instead of solving the problem, the situation will only worsen and create suspicions among the people.
“Going to the media should be the last resort, I think. Find a way, go and meet the authority. Why speak to the authority through the media?”
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/10/21/pm-christians-in-sabah-sarawak-can-use-allah/
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/06/24/fear-ban-will-extend-to-sabah-sarawak/