PBS Youth lodges report over Shafie’s alleged defamatory statement
PENAMPANG: A police report was lodged against Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal after he allegedly called Christian Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders in Sabah ‘hypocrites’ for failing to protect the religion.
Describing the statement as defamatory, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth acting chief, Christopher Mandut, in lodging the report at the Penampang district police headquarters on Monday, said being a Sabahan, Shafie should be aware that anything on religion is deemed as sensitive issue.
He therefore urged the police to probe the intent behind the statement as we feel it may have been purposely made to create hatred, anger and disturbance to the peace and harmony in Sabah.
“We in PBS believe in freedom to practise our own faith. We respect one another and other people’s religions, because some of us have family members practising different faiths even within a family,” he said.
Mandut added that even in the just concluded 32nd PBS Congress, issues related to religion, as well as Sabah and Sabahans’ rights were the topics highlighted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who came to launch the event.
In his alleged statement, Shafie had named PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Organisation (Upko) acting president Wilfred Madius Tangau and Upko president Bernard Dompok, as leaders who portrayed themselves as ‘Christian heroes’ but only in their respective areas.