JUSTICE must be served if accusations of “forced mass Islamisation” in the past are true, Sabah Christian leaders said of the recent allegation made by Deputy Chief Minister Wilfred Madius Tangau.

They urged those offended by Tangau’s assertion not to take it literally but to see his statement as a comparison between political leaders past and present.

Keningau Churches Council chairman Rev Anderson Norbert said the focus should be on ascertaining Tangau’s comments, which point to events 38 years ago.

“This is against the law because religious freedom is upheld in Sabah. If indeed there had been forced Islamisation, justice must be served.

“There have been suppressive regimes.

“Past leaders had imposed requirements (to convert to Islam) in return for rewards and according to Tangau, it looked like a threat,” Norbert said, referring to Tangau’s statement that people were forced to convert to Islam previously in return for land or jobs.

On July 21, Tangau posted on Facebook about a leader he didn’t name, who allegedly organised a mass conversion ceremony Tambunan folk 38 years ago.

He contrasted this with a Muslim leader “of today”, who went to Tambunan and did not force anyone to convert to Islam.

Instead, he donated RM1 million to Christians there for church repairs.

His post was written a day after Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal announced the allocation for St Theresa’s Church in Tambunan.

However, Tangau’s comments about forced Islamisation caused an uproar among Muslims across Sabah.

Police are investigating under the Penal Code, after 20 reports were lodged by a combination of groups and people over his statement.

Shafie defended Tangau, saying all his deputy had done was to make a comparison of past and present.

However, Tangau’s comments have opened a sensitive issue for Christian leaders in Sabah, where claims of forced conversions of non-Muslim Bumiputeras emerge every now and then.

A Tambunan pastor said Tangau’s statement must be viewed seriously and the authorities should investigate the truth of the matter.

Pastor Michael Gunting said those behind the conversions should also apologise for abusing their power as leaders.

“This goes against human rights (to freedom of religion) which is guaranteed by the federal constitution under Article 11.

“Although the incident may have happened 38 years ago, if there is clear evidence to what the Tuaran MP said, the government must apologise and give its guarantee that such things will never happen again,” said Gunting.

Gunting added that this was the chance for Shafie’s Warisan-led state government to win over Sabahans of other faiths.

Chris Maskilone, a Christian from Kiulu said he felt Tangau’s comment about forced Islamation had been proven over the years and was an “open secret”.

“There is no need to unravel whether there had been any truth about this because it is already out in the open.

“Tangau was only driving home his point that the present Sabah leadership is doing the best for all Sabahans, including for Christians,” he said. – July 27, 2019.