Dr Max: Multiracial parties provide strategic avenue for racial tolerance
Monday, 8 November 2004 (Source: New Sabah Times)

KOTA KINABALU: The presence of many multiracial parties in Sabah since the formation of Malaysia has provided a strategic avenue for racial tolerance and understanding, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said yesterday.

This had reduced the occurrence of racial or religious bigotry and extremism, he said.

“The practice of multiple religion within same families has also led to a high level of religious tolerance.

“It is common in many Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) and Sino KDM families for Islam, Christianity, Buddhism or paganism to be practised by different members of the household. Despite that, they co-exist harmoniously with great respect towards each other,” he told Bernama, here.

He said there was also less identification of race with economic function in the state, thus contributing to good racial interaction among Sabahans.

For instance, rice farming is practised not only by the KDM community but also by the Bajau, rural Chinese, Bisaya, Kedayan and Orang Sungai. And so is fishing – aside from the Bajau, Suluk, Iranun and Ubian, many KDM along the coast of Sabah are also fishermen,” he said.

Dr Ongkili said ethnic unity and understanding among the races in Sabah and Sarawak was more developed than elsewhere in the country because of the high level of intermarriages among the races.

“Of course, this has promoted better interracial tolerance and mutual respect,” he added.

On preserving unity among Sabahans, he said there was a need to further promote inter-marriages, encourage quality interaction among the races through cultural programmes, sports, dialogues and joint economic activities, especially among the younger generation.

“I think there is also a need to improve the principle of multiracialism in politics to avoid polarisation and act as a buffer against racism and racist tendencies,” he said.

He said the people of Sabah should reject political bigots and proponents of political or religious extremism to further strengthen unity among the various races.

“We must further promote the spirit of inter racial gotong royong to cultivate goodwill, sense of togetherness, natural affinity and nationalism among the races,” he said.

He said the state government should formulate and support programmes focused on celebration of diversity “to develop appreciation of our heritages, ethnic values and inter-racial family bonds so that they can be institutionalised for the younger generation to inherit and further develop as a way of life of Bangsa Malayisa”.