By Mohd Khairy Abdullah @ DG Henry
TENOM (Sabah, Malaysia), Sept 8 – Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has once again stirred controversy after describing the Murut community as “infidels” in his speech in Melalap yesterday, sparking outrage and deep resentment among the people.
The statement is widely seen as an open insult to the identity and position of the Murut, with many warning that it could fuel racial sentiments and threaten Sabah’s delicate harmony.
United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) Tenom Division Chief, Junik Bajik, stressed that Shafie’s justification of having merely “misspoken” was unacceptable and insufficient to cover up what he called a grave mistake touching on ethnic and religious sensitivities.
“Such a public statement deeply offends the Murut community. In fact, other non-Muslim indigenous groups also regard it as an affront to their dignity. More disturbingly, this is not the first time he has made derogatory remarks targeting other communities in Sabah,” he said.
Junik recalled a previous controversy when Shafie was quoted saying there were “no Chinese in the cabinet,” a remark that was widely condemned as insulting to the Chinese community.
“The repetition of such derogatory statements clearly reflects an insensitivity towards Sabah’s ethnic diversity, which forms the bedrock of our harmony. Such actions deserve the strongest condemnation as they can ignite division and erode unity among the people,” he stressed.
Junik urged Shafie to immediately issue a public apology to the Murut community in particular, and to the people of Sabah and Malaysia at large.
“He must also commit to never again making derogatory remarks that could damage the well-being and harmony of this state,” he said
