AN article about racial and religious harmony in East Malaysia I wrote years ago was inspired by a friend who posted a photo of a Muslim friend attending her friend’s church wedding as a bridesmaid.

Years later, a different scene unfolds – an image of a vandalised icon in a church.

The incident took place at the Catholic Church of Keningau, where an unidentified person entered the premises right after the morning mass and subsequently vandalised a cross and a statue of Virgin Mary.

Church officials reported the incident to police. Later, a local man, suspected to be mentally ill, was arrested.

The incident quickly went viral, and the intentions behind the act were most talked about.

The parish posted on social media, urging everyone to remain calm and patient and not speculate or spread unverified information. 

In more than 4,000 comments posted, social media users largely reminded one another to restrain, respect and be courteous to one another. 

After the suspect was arrested, the parish chose to forgive the person, refused to demand compensation from the suspect’s family, and urged social media users not to attack his family.

Religious and racial harmony in Sabah has always been the showpiece of the nation and Sabah folk are proud of it. One might ask if Sabah has always been this harmonious? 

In fact, there is a dark history that Sabah people cannot forget.

It started with the state elections in April 1985 when the opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) won 25 seats, while the ruling BERJAYA and United Sabah National Organisation won only 23 seats. The latter did not expect themselves to lose. 

The Barisan Nasional federal government campaigned actively on behalf of BERJAYA, and the then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad declared that his government would “sink or swim” with BERJAYA.

Therefore, losing power with the blessing of the federal government was really difficult for BERJAYA to accept. The change in governing political parties made lawmakers switch camps, making Sabah politics unstable.

However, what Sabah folk did not expect was that the state elections triggered the “1986 Sabah riots” over religion. There were many BERJAYA and USNO supporters, including MPs, who were spreading rumours that a PBS victory meant the emergence of a non-Muslim state government that was not part of BN, instigating religious conflicts and creating tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims. 

It even ended with Muslims and non-Muslims vandalising each other’s places of worship. 

What is even more shocking is that the religious conflicts, which were politically motivated, triggered a series of violent acts. 

Muslim protesters demonstrated in the state’s three largest cities – Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Kudat. 

They even used handmade bombs, blew up stores and cars, and created riots and set fires. Five people were killed and hundreds were injured, and the extent of damage was enormous. 

Curiously, it is widely believed that the numerous protesters were Filipinos and Muslim refugees who had acquired Malaysian citizenship in Sabah, even though they had only lived in the state for a short period.

This situation had caused public anxiety as many feared that Filipino immigrants would benefit from the federal programmes as well as the increase in Muslim population in Sabah. 

But what happened in this so-called religious riot was clearly not the intention of the locals, but a riot created by politicians to achieve their political goals.

That is why when a similar incident of a smashed church icon took place, Sabah folk reminded each other not to speculate or spread rumours. 

I also found some media reports linking this vandalism to another horrific murder near a Catholic church in Semporna, in which two men were beheaded. 

It was also reported that the murdered men were employees of the church, when in fact the victims were foreigners. What was the motive of such reporting? 

Our country is expected to face a general election in the near future and such an incitement may yet recur.

I wonder if this chain of events is politically motivated. In any case, the right thing to do is stay calm.  

After all, a Covid outbreak had already taken place in the state due to a snap state elections in 2020, and thus the consequences of another riot would be unthinkable. 

But what is certain is that the rakyat will be in trouble again should that happen. History must not repeat itself. Religious and racial harmony in Sabah cannot be used as a political bargaining chip.

Different beliefs notwithstanding, Sabah people should respect and love one another as a way of showing true unity. – August 1, 2022.

* Esther Sinirisan Chong is a member of Agora Society. She was born and raised in the Land Below the Wind. Her research interest lies in education and government policies, and the history and heritage of East Malaysia.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.