By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has backed Tan Sri Anifah Aman’s call for tolerance and fair treatment over the proposed Israel Houghton concert in Kota Kinabalu.
Jeffrey said the issue raised an important concern about preserving the mutual respect that had long sustained Sabah’s diverse society.
He said Christians, Muslims and followers of other faiths had lived together, celebrated each other’s festivals and respected each other’s religious practices for generations.
“This harmony is a strength we must protect,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Jeffrey, who is also the Keningau Member of Parliament, said the pledge inscribed on Batu Sumpah Keningau — “Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin – Ugama Bebas Dalam Sabah” — must continue to guide the leadership and treatment of every religious community.
He said the pledge reflected the importance placed on religious freedom and mutual respect in the formation of Malaysia.
“I emphasise that this pledge must continue to guide our leadership and our treatment of every religious community.
“Its meaning must be upheld in practice, including respect for Christians to gather and express their faith peacefully, subject to applicable laws,” he said.
On the proposed concert, Jeffrey said it was a Gospel concert intended for a Christian audience and concerns about the performer’s political views should be assessed fairly and on their own merits.
He said such concerns should not cast suspicion on the religious practices of Sabah’s Christian community.
“Allowing a musical performance does not, in itself, mean endorsing every political opinion expressed by the performer,” he said.
Jeffrey said concerns over the suffering of the Palestinian people were compatible with respect for Christian worship and religious expression.
“If there are concerns about possible political messaging or provocation, the relevant authorities should engage with the organisers and establish clear conditions,” he said.
He said the conditions should include compliance with applicable laws and permit requirements, respect for local sensitivities and no use of the concert as a platform for political provocation.
“Provided those requirements are met, I support allowing the concert to proceed,” he said.
Jeffrey also urged the authorities to apply consistent standards to comparable events, saying decisions should be based on evidence, public safety and compliance with the law.
“The religious identity of the performer or audience should not become a reason for unequal treatment,” he said.
He said people were entitled to raise concerns through lawful channels, but such concerns should be examined responsibly.
“The filing of police reports should not, by itself, determine whether an event is prohibited,” he said.
Jeffrey urged all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the matter through dialogue.
He said the Sabah Government and relevant authorities should give due weight to the state’s longstanding culture of religious harmony when considering the event.
“Sabahans have built a society where differences of faith do not prevent us from being neighbours, friends and family.
“We must ensure that this spirit continues,” he said.
Jeffrey said he stood with Anifah in rejecting religious intolerance and urged all parties to uphold the Batu Sumpah Keningau pledge through fairness, mutual respect and responsible leadership.
‘Allowing a musical performance does not, in itself, mean endorsing every political opinion expressed by the performer’ – Jeffrey
