WARISAN leader Shafie Apdal must walk the talk on defending Christian rights lest he be called a hypocrite, said Bernard Dompok. 

The veteran Sabah politician said he was surprised he was included on a list of Sabah Christian leaders who Shafie claimed had not spoken up for Christians.

Dompok, who is Malaysia’s first resident ambassador to the Holy See, said Shafie had vowed to defend Christianity in accordance with the federal constitution, stating the constituon is secular and provides for freedom of worship. 

“I am certainly amazed that Shafie has called me a hypocrite, since he knows that I have resigned from the presidency of Upko (United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Dusun Murut Organisation) for a few years now,” he said in a statement. 

“But I take comfort in the knowledge that you do not become a hypocrite just because some overambitious politician says so. 

“And I want Shafie continue even after the election, as at this moment all he has been saying has all the makings of an election gimmick aimed at the Christian gallery.”

Dompok, who was Sabah chief minister from 1998 to 1999 and plantation industries and commodities minister from 2008 to 2013, said Shafie could prove he was sincere if he could end the MyKad and birth certificate issue in Sabah, as many Sabahans disagreed to include religion in their particulars. 

“Since the constitution provides for the freedom of worship, Malaysians should be free to follow the religion of their choice. 

“It should be up to the person to decide his religion or whether he indeed wants to have a religion,” said Dompok, adding that religion was a personal matter.

“There are also other issues such as the use of the word ‘Allah’, which I had brought up during my term as a politician and federal minister.” 

He said he had raised many issues at the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council and directly to the prime minister when he was still in government. 

He also said his contributions were even before Shafie was appointed a federal minister.

Dompok is in Kuala Lumpur for consultations with religious and government leaders, and the inauguration of the chancery and residence of the Vatican in Kuala Lumpur.

He is expected to return to Vatican City on Monday. 

On November 19, Shafie, who is Semporna MP, branded Dompok and other Sabah Christian MPs as hypocrites for only championing the religion in their areas but not in Parliament.

Shafie claimed the leaders did nothing or had not spoken up about Umno and PAS growing closer, or the government allowing the tabling of the bill to strengthen shariah courts. – November 25, 2017.