Wipe out fanaticism — Jeffrey

KOTA KINABALU: It is high time the new federal leaders step in resolutely to wipe out religious fanaticism and anti-Christian sentiment in Malaysia.

Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, the president of Parti Solidariti Tanahairku (STAR) made this clarion call in response to the action by many bodies in Tawau to issue a statement to oppose the Tawau Christmas and New Year celebrations organised by the office of Tawau Member of Parliament Datuk Christina Liew.

“This action is a serious escalation of the anti-Christian attitude which has been worsening in the country,” Dr Jeffrey said tersely.

“And every Sabahan, including Muslims, should be alarmed and loudly raise their indigence against this development.”

The Member of Parliament for Keningau and Assemlyman for Tambunan said that with the establishment of the new government in Malaysia, with the supposedly more open and inclusive attitude of the Pakatan Harapan leadership, we had expected that religious fanaticism under the previous Barisan Nasional would have subsided by now.

“Instead it had escalated with the recent riot at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Subang Jaya last month. We laud the Prime Minister’s assurance of punishment for the perpetrators which had caused the loss of a fireman’s precious life,” he said.

He also urged the leaders of the new government to make a stance against the anti-Christian development in Tawau by condemning it as an anti-national, a highly divisive and anti-unity move by an arrogant group.

He said it left unchecked it would become a worse problem which would drag Malaysia into social conflicts.