MEMBAKUT: Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) have been told to stay out of Sabah after incorrectly characterising yesterday’s Christmas and New Year celebration open house here as a political programme.
The celebration event’s organising chairman, Chang Hui Min @ Peter Chang, who represents Membakut Church, said the programme was a result of cooperation among villagers, who made a collection to ensure its organisation.
“The Christmas and New Year celebration was organised by Membakut’s Christian community, and not by (Parti Warisan Sabah) Warisan or the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) Malaysia Organisation,” he said.
Chang was responding to Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan who said yesterday that he will ask BN’s command centre to lodge a report to the Election Commission (EC), following claims that a lucky draw was held during the event, on the day of candidate nominations for the Kimanis by-election.
Mohamad said this when asked to comment about a viral Facebook post which shows photos of motorcycles and hampers - supposedly lucky draw items for the programme.
The event was attended by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Peter Anthony, Sabah Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chief Datuk Seri Jahihi Noor, and Warisan candidate Datuk Karim Bujang, among others.
Peter, who is Warisan vice-president, also heads the KDM Malaysia Organisation
Chang said Shafie was invited in his capacity as chief minister as a show of appreciation to the state government for gazetting Dec 24 - Christmas Eve - as a state public holiday.
“All expenditure and management of the event was borne by the ‘orang kampung’ who chipped in. Anyone, including those from opposition parties, could attend and there were Umno as well as BN members attending,” Chang said.
Chang reminded Umno and BN not to insult Sabahans, adding that it has been the locals’ custom to celebrate a festive occasion together, regardless of their cultural differences.
“We are Sabahans and we know what we want. Umno and BN should train their focus on Kuala Lumpur rather than make blind allegations against us,” he said.