Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun said the guides should have left their political affiliations at the door when they came to work.

He dismissed criticisms that the decision was harsh, adding the trio would have been suspended regardless of whichever political party flag they showed.

“The statement by the director of Sabah Parks is crystal clear. I have nothing to add,” he told reporters after launching the new Sabah Tourist Guide Association office here today.

Sabah Parks director Jamili Nais had said the decision to slap a two-month suspension was made after consulting with the Mount Kinabalu Guides Association.

The decision took into account the safety of climbers, he said, adding they could be uncomfortable if they did not share the same political affiliation as their guides.

Jamili said everyone has the democratic right to support a political party of their choice.

However, Sabah Parks staff and mountain guides, who are freelancers licensed by Sabah Parks, should not bring their political alignment, whether it be for the government or opposition, to the workplace.

The three guides were suspended from work until May 31 after pictures of them holding up the Warisan flag surfaced on social media last week.

One of the guides, Jomius Binte, received a letter from Kinabalu Park manager Yassin Miki last Tuesday, accusing the three of tainting their profession by mixing politics with work.

Warisan vice president Junz Wong, in a Whatsapp message, has questioned whether the guides would have been suspended if they had posed with the flags of Barisan Nasional (BN) or Umno.

“Were they suspended for showing they are aware of how democracy works, love Sabah but prefer a Warisan government to replace BN or that the BN government cannot understand how democracy works?” he said.

No politics on the mount, says Sabah Park after Kinabalu guides punished