KIULU : It was a true display of the existing high level of religious tolerance in Sabah when several Muslim academic staff and trainees from Kinarut Youth Skills Training Institute (IKBN) took part in a gotong royong to give the St Paul Chapel at Kampung Sinalapak here a facelift.
Also joining in the gotong royong officiated by Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai were the institute’s deputy director, Suhaidi Mustar, its assistant director for student affairs, Fatimah Abdul Rahman, the chapel’s Cathecist Rosenani Kiting and village head Dunsim Gimbatu.
“It is really heartening to see them (Muslim trainees and officials of Kinarut IKBN) taking part in the gotong royong,” Joniston said.
Their noble deeds, he added, is very meaningful at a time when certain quarters have been claiming that religious freedom in Sabah is under threat.
Jointly organised by the Kinarut IKBN and Sinalapak Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), the collaboration was carried out under the Cabinet Away Day Touch Point initiative.
Besides sprucing up the chapel with a new coat of paint, the trainees also installed new fans complete with wiring and put up a new roofing on its corridor.
“We are really thankful to IKBN Kinarut for choosing our chapel for their Cabinet Away Day Touch Point programme,” said Rosenani, adding that it was really refreshing to see non-Christians joining in the gotong royong.