KUCHING, Sept 14: Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sebastian Ting says there is no imposition of one’s ideology or religion on others in Sarawak.
“In Sarawak we have people of so many different races and religions and we must continue to be united.
“There have never been any instances where one group forcing their ideology or religion on others and this practice must continue for Sarawak to flourish, as it has been all these years,” said Ting.
Citing the example of Masjid An Naim and Good Shepherd Church in Miri, Ting said that is a great example of tolerance and acceptance of each other in Sarawak.
“In Miri where I come from, there is a Church and a Mosque sitting side by side and weekly they offer their parking spaces to their neighbour on their respective prayer days.
“So on Sundays the Churchgoers can park their car in the Mosque grounds and vise versa of the Friday prayers time,” said Ting after visiting the festival site with Tourism, Arts and Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah on Thursday evening (Sept 12).
On the festival itself, Ting said it was an event that showcased the nature of Sarawakians.
He said festive activities such as the annual Kuching Intercultural Mooncake Festival reflected such a nature of Sarawakians.
“This event amplifies the nature of Sarawakians being more than just tolerant but also accepting and accommodating towards each other.
“In Sarawak there is a prevalent meeting of minds. We can see here in Carpenter Street a predominantly Chinese area transformed into a colourful bazaar with all the different races participating with glee and smiles,” said Ting. — DayakDaily
