Stand firm against extremism in Malaysia, Sabahans urged

KOTA KINABALU: The people of Sabah must continue to reject religious extremism in the country, says Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

The Deputy Chief Minister, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) deputy chairman, said that the state would always condemn religious extremism in any form.

"The GRS government respects freedom of religion in Sabah and will defend religious harmony in Sabah at all cost from any attempts, either directly or indirectly, to destroy it," he said in a statement on Friday (Nov 18).

"The people must continue to reject attempts by any individual or group who abuse religion for their selfish gains," Kitingan added.

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His statement came following a viral video in which Perikatan Nasional chairman and former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin allegedly accused Christians of being in cahoots with a group of Jews to Christianise Malaysia.

Kitingan said Sabahans were known to be peace-loving people from different ethnic groups and of different faiths who have lived in harmony and unity all this while.

He said this was unity in diversity "in its highest form" and made Sabah and its people unique.

"The Sabah government and people stand firmly united to preserve this at all costs," he added.

In the TikTok video, Muhyiddin is seen during a speech telling the people not to vote for Pakatan Harapan as it was being backed by people pushing for a Christianisation agenda.

He claimed to have seen a group of Jews talking about Malaysia and praying for the country to fall into the hands of the Opposition.