Three mountain guides suspended over party flag on Mt Kinabalu
KOTA KINABALU: Three mountain guides have been suspended from work until end of May for allegedly flying the flag of a political party on Mount Kinabalu.
Kinabalu Park manager Yassin Miki said this was because they had brought political elements into the workplace by their act.
It is learnt that the flag was that of opposition party Parti Warisan Sabah.
Yassin signed a letter of suspension to the trio for breaching work ethics.
Photographs of a mountain guide posing with the Warisan flag and the letter of suspension have since gone viral, with many questioning the suspension.
Sabah Parks director Dr Jamili Nais supported the action taken, saying that it was not done because the guides supported an opposition party, but because they failed to differentiate between work and politics.
“As the head of this organisation, I fully support the move to suspend these three mountain guides because they have brought in political sentiments to work,” he said.
Dr Jamili said everybody had a democratic right and are free to choose any political party.
“But for Sabah Parks staff and mountain guides (mostly freelancers licensed by the park), it is not right to bring political sentiments into the workplace – especially where tourists are involved,” he said.
He said it could potentially cause a flashpoint, particularly if other climbers were supporters of other parties.
Dr Jamili said their staff should be neutral, especially during the election season.
“However, we should serve the people according to our job scope and be loyal to the government of the day,” he added.