Festive songs: Carollers performing at the Inanam Christmas Carnival in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
KOTA KINABALU: Violence linked to racial and religious intolerance occurring in other parts of the world should serve as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding harmony here, says Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
The Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister said the consequences could be severe when societies failed to manage their differences with respect.
“That is why Sabah must continue to maintain the culture of mutual respect and be a model of religious and racial tolerance.
“Sabah and its people must ensure that religious and racial extremism will never take root here,” he said when launching the Inanam Christmas Carnival at Pekan Inanam near here on Saturday.
Joniston said that Sabah’s multiracial and multireligious makeup has long been a source of strength among its people.
The communities, he said, were accustomed to living, working and celebrating together despite their differences.
Referring to the carnival’s theme – “Saved by Grace” – he said the message reflected shared values of compassion and kindness that resonate across faiths and cultures.
“In Sabah, tolerance is part of daily life and can be seen in the way the communities interact and celebrate each other’s festivals,” said Joniston.
He said this social harmony had contributed to the state’s stability and peaceful environment, which remains one of Sabah’s most important assets.
Such harmony amid Sabah’s diverse cultures also strengthens the state’s tourism appeal, as visitors are drawn not only to its landscapes but also to its inclusive and welcoming communities, he said.
Co-organised by Kota Kinabalu City Hall and the Inanam Council of Churches, the Inanam Christmas Carnival has been held since 2015.
The two-day celebration, which concluded yesterday, was also attended by Inanam Council of churches chairman Pastor Bios Solingkin and elders from various Christian denominations.
