KOTA KINABALU: All political parties in the country should stop using race, religion and culture as a tool to achieve their political agendas.
Gerakan Sabah liaison chairman Datuk Gordon Leong made the call here yesterday while taking the “Suara Pakatan Rakyat” to task, for insulting the Sumazau dance.
He regretted that in its enthusiasm to humiliate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib for his participation in the traditional Kadazandusun dance in Keningau recently, he said the website had stirred up racial sentiments and jeopardised racial harmony among Malaysians generally and Sabahans in particular.
The website has apparently described the Sumazau dance as only fit for those with low morality.
“What an insulting remark the writer of the website has made, especially in this day and age. It is our humble opinion that race, religion and culture should never be used as a political tool. The blogger has totally lost it,” said Gordon.
He added that such thoughtless and immature statement had exposed the mentally and irresponsible attitude of the said blogger and those responsible for the said website.
“In a country where peace and harmony are enjoyed and where cultural and ethnic diversities are our proudest assets, such racist and irresponsible remarks are disrespectful and are totally uncalled for.
“Gerakan Sabah’s message to the website is, please keep the disrespectful immature and insensitive racist remarks within your backyard and don’t indoctrinate us with your racism and attempts to cause racial disunity and disharmony in our beloved country,” he stressed.
Gordon said the Sumazau is a beautiful and intricate traditional ethnic dance which truly reflects the Sabah Kadazandusun community’s culture, depicting the peace and harmony that the people of Sabah enjoyed.
He further noted that amongst other ethnic dances, the Sumazau has become synonymous with Sabah, especially in the tourism sector where the dance is performed to welcome tourists, besides inviting them to partake in it.
“The Sumazau is proudly performed and showcased at every function, celebration and event throughout Sabah as well as Malaysia.
“The Sumazau has also been showcased in international events and competitions and has won international recognition,” he pointed out.
So Gordon urged all Malaysians, especially Sabahans, to stand united in the Anak Malaysia’s true spirit of Satu Hati, Satu Negara, Satu Wawasan to proudly defend “our identity, roots, culture, tradition, unity, peace and harmony”.