9th February, 2014

KOTA KINABALU: All Malaysians in Sabah must be steadfast, resolute, unwavering and stand together to defend the cardinal principle of freedom of religion upon which this great country was formed.

A former Member of Parliament Datuk Henrynus Amin said statements or decisions or actions that breach or betray this cardinal principle should be questioned or ignored as far as Sabah is concerned.

He said the then founding fathers in the interior led by the Gunsanad family had asked for Constitutional guarantee for the freedom of religion when negotiating their way to the formation of Malaysia.

You can read from history how these founding fathers from the interior of Sabah (then North Borneo) spoke their mind and fought hard to win political concession from the then Federation of Malaya for Constitutional guarantee to the native community on freedom of religion.

The event was commemorated in an oath stone located in Keningau town where GS Sundang and other native political leaders representing the interior native community read out their pledge of loyalty and oath of allegiance to Malaysia.

All Malaysians especially political leaders who helm the seats of power at State or Federal level should remember and not ignore this important event, he said in a statement yesterday.

The former Parti Bersatu Sabah secretary-general said statements or decisions by political leaders deemed to contravene or put in doubt their commitment to this Constitutional provision of freedom of religion will no doubt be questioned politically and legally.

I would like to thank our Chief Minister for his call for give and take approach to ensure religious harmony, peace and stability in the country.

Henrynus said the Christian community welcome the Chief Ministers personal stand that the ongoing linguistic issue between Christians and Muslim in Peninsula Malaysia on the Malay Bible is a non-issue in Sabah and should not be allowed to divide the peace loving people of Sabah.

Go here to see the original:

Freedom of religion leads the way to Malaysias formation