KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah Tourism Board is looking into creating a harmony walk or harmony ride programme to highlight the peaceful co-existence within Sabah’s multi-religious society, said state Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said the programme, which could involve a trip covering four places of worship here, could potentially become a unique tourist attraction which the state wants to be known for aside from stunning landscapes.
He noted Sabah’s population diversity is one of the state’s strengths, contributing to its distinctive genetic makeup where over 40 ethnic groups live in harmony.
“Sabah’s multicultural population has proven adept at overcoming religious and cultural barriers to unity. The locals’ friendly nature and peaceful existence have become an important selling point.
“Religious and racial extremism has no place in Sabah and cannot be tolerated here.”
“We co-exist harmoniously, and that shows in the proximity of our places of worship.
“I say this because, in Sabah, we don’t just want to be renowned for the beauty of our fauna and nature, but also the people,” he said, citing the state mosque, Sacred Heart Church, the Sikh gurduwala, and the Peak Nam Tung Buddhist temple in the state capital located within the 6-km radius around here.
Joniston, who is also the chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board, said this to a South Korean incentive group at the Repove Korea – Future Dream Festival Welcome Dinner yesterday at the Shangrila Tanjung Aru Resort.
The Korean-based Coceuco company organised the dinner to honour 450 high achievers.
Under the Repove brand, the company manufactures and sells multi-functional skin care products.
Present were Sabah Tourism chief executive officer Noredah Othman, Coceuco chairman Kim Seongee and Coceuco chief executive officer Lee Hwa Yong, among others. – The Vibes, March 20, 2023
