KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah has warned individuals – politicians in particular – against any attempt to fan racial and/or religious strife in the state.
He cautioned them that should the ‘fire’ breaks out, it would be the people who would get burnt, and so he advised the persons concerned to stop nit-picking.
“It is absolutely irresponsible for anyone, in particular politicians, to try to instigate or pit the various religious groups in the state against each other,” he said after attending the Unit For Other Religions (Unifor) pre-strategic planning programme meeting at a hotel here yesterday.
Uggah said he was very disappointed that a certain Facebook account holder had been trying his best to find fault with Unifor.
“He suggested that Unifor should be renamed Unit for Christianity. He (the Facebook account holder) has conveniently ignored the fact that Unifor is looking after 16 different religious groups.”
Uggah, who is Minister-in-charge of Unifor, said, “Even if you do not share the government’s political belief, please do not play with fire”.
He hoped no other Sarawakians would try to stoke racial and religious conflicts.
Also present at the meeting were Deputy State Secretary Datuk Ik Pahon, Unifor director Richard Lon and heads and senior representatives of 16 religious groups.
Uggah said Sarawak was progressing because of its racial and religious harmony and unity.
“Sometime we face issues and challenges but we need to understand each other in order to find good solutions. We may agree to disagree on certain issues but we can always discuss and move forward. There is no need for provocation or to amplify our differences.”
