TAMPARULI: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) hopes all parties will be fair and sensible and consider the true nature of the proposed Israel Houghton and Israel & New Breed concert in Kota Kinabalu.
“If the programme is solely a music event featuring Christian worship songs, this should also be taken into consideration when making any decision,” said its information chief, Dr Bonaventure Boniface, in a statement.
PBS also believes that an artiste’s personal name should not, in itself, be the basis for any assumption about the purpose of an event.
Israel Houghton is an American gospel singer, and “Israel” is his personal name.
Sabah has long been known as a state where people live in an atmosphere of mutual respect among different religions, races and cultures, he said.
This spirit of harmony must continue to be preserved by allowing every community to practise its beliefs peacefully and responsibly, subject to the laws and regulations in force, he said.
Therefore, PBS leaves it to the relevant authorities to make the appropriate assessment regarding approval, security and public order.
“If all conditions can be met and any security concerns can be properly addressed, we hope fair consideration can be given to the organisation of the event.
“On issues involving community sensitivities, all parties should avoid statements or actions that could cause misunderstanding and instead prioritise dialogue, mutual respect and the harmony that has long been a strength of Sabah society,” said Bonaventure. – Wu Vuide
Bonaventure said PBS leaves it to the relevant authorities to make the appropriate assessment regarding approval, security and public order.
