KOTA KINABALU: Racial and religious tension must not be allowed to happen in Sabah.
Describing Sabahans as tolerant people, Parti Bersatu Sabah information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said matters like the socks controversy were not an issue in Sabah.
"In Sabah, we are totally different. We give emphasis on religious and racial tolerance, so what is happening in other states, probably in the peninsula, will never happen in Sabah.
"The level of tolerance among the multi-racial and multi-religion society of Sabah is high. We value peace, understanding, and the need to co-exist harmoniously," he said when met at the launching of a new site for two stones, which was considered sacred to the Pahu Lama community.
Also present at the event was Tuaran MP cum Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd chairman, Datuk Seri Madius Tangau.
Bangkuai, who was the Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister and Sabah Tourism Board chairman, said even the Sabah state government provided a special allocation for non-Muslim religious bodies and mission schools, and the figure increased yearly.
In January this year, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced that the Sabah state government had set aside RM56.75mil for non-Muslim religious bodies, mission schools, national type and private schools.
Of the figure, RM24.15mil was meant for schools, while the remaining RM32.6mil was for non-Muslim religious institutions.
The total allocation increased by RM2.7mil, compared to 2023’s RM54.05mil.
