KUCHING: Some of those who attended a Pentecostal Night gathering at the Jubilee Ground here last weekend may not have noticed this but many traders selling food and drinks during the two-night event were Muslims. Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said he received a message accompanied by a photo that reads, “Good morning Sir…maybe you didn’t notice
that while Malam Pentakosta is a Christian event, those who sell drinks and food are from the Malay community.”
“I am proud to be Sarawakian…seeing them (Malay) in a Christian event like this. We are definitely a role model to many states in Malaya,” added the message.
Masing commented that “this is what Sarawak is all about…tolerance in all aspects of life – social,
religion and culture.” “Politics is never a problem to us. Despite differences in our politics, we remain friends. Malayan brand of politics divide and make enemies of us Sarawakians which I hate.”
Masing added that was why political extremism must never be allowed to rear its ugly head in Sarawak. “If worst comes to worst, we will advise our chief minister to exercise our immigration autonomy to stop these extremists from entering Sarawak,” he added. Some 50,000 Christians from various denominations braved the haze to attend the event, the largest of its kind in the state.
The air pollutant index (API) reading on those nights was above 200 — very unhealthy. The faithful came from as far as Sabah, Brunei, Kuala Lumpur and Indonesia for praise, worship, listen to
sermons and prayer.
