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KOTA KINABALU: The Vice Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Jeffrey Kitingan, said today that he was not among the first to respond to the comments of a PAS deputy on the Bible, as he believed that doing so would only make the situation worse.
Kitingan, who is Keningau’s MP, said he was in a dilemma over whether to respond to statements by Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh, as he believed that the belief or faith of a Malaysian should not become political fodder. .
“Religion must not be politicized,” he said in a statement. “In Sabah, we live in peace despite being a multi-ethnic (society) and with a multiple belief system.
“We see our religions as teachings of peace and not as instruments of hatred. Therefore, their action has completely perplexed us. “
Referring to a statement from Warisan General Treasurer Terrence Siambun, Kitingan said Siambun was right when he said there was no need to enter into a dialogue with Zawawi.
“That was my exact position, responding to the impudence of Pasir Puteh (Zawawi) will only exacerbate things and prolong the problem. It is like pouring oil on flames without a positive conclusion.
“And I trusted that Malaysians, particularly Sabahans, are mature and level-headed enough to realize that Zawawi was just being insolent and rude. His obtuse response that Christians have no right to be offended underscored his lack of Malay spirit.
“As a leader and legislator, defending the peace and law of the country is paramount. And I was hoping that I could address this behind closed doors to spare Malaysians the irreversible feelings of resentment and suspicion that it will undoubtedly throw on our citizens of various races and religions. This is a divisive issue. “
Last week, Zawawi had alleged in the Dewan Rakyat that the biblical injunctions on alcohol consumption had been “distorted or altered”, and that the Bible had previously prohibited the consumption of alcohol.
His comments sparked protests from politicians in Sabah and Sarawak, and an archbishop of Sarawak who asked for a retraction and an apology. A sedition report was also filed against Zawawi in Kuching.
Kitingan said that, however, there were some who had seized the opportunity to exploit this divisive issue for political advantage.
“They threw caution to the wind. It is not done out of pure concern for justice, but for political gain.
“My advice is to be careful not to end with a Pyrrhic victory (a victory that comes at a cost and equates to a defeat). What is the point of winning if the cost of victory is burning down the house? “
Kitingan called on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, as the de facto leader of Perikatan Nasional, to take appropriate measures against Zawawi to stop such outbreaks in the future.
