Ex-CM: Sabah cops should manage security so gospel concert can go ahead

At one time the indigenous Kadazans were the majority in Sabah. That ended when Mamakutty launched his project IC.  

Malaysiakini : Former Sabah chief minister Salleh Said Keruak has urged the police to manage security concerns so American gospel singer Israel Houghton's planned concert can proceed.

State police commissioner Jauteh Dikun had recommended postponing the concert by Houghton’s band, Israel & New Breed, over concerns about his name and his support for the Zionist state.

At least two police reports have been lodged against the event, whose organisers have begun advertising it despite not yet filing the necessary paperwork.

In a statement today, Salleh said Jauteh’s (above) concerns should be taken seriously, but all factors should be weighed as Houghton has a following among Sabah’s Christian community.

“Sabah has always been known for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among its diverse communities. This is a tradition worth preserving.

"⁠If the security concerns can be reasonably managed, the emphasis should be on ensuring that the concert is conducted responsibly and peacefully, rather than preventing it from taking place altogether," said the Umno politician.

United Sabah Islamic Association (Usia) and Sabah Islamic NGOs lodged a police report in Lahad Datu yesterday and called for a review of the concert’s permits, Daily Express reported.

They cited Houghton’s alleged stance on Israel and the Israel–Palestine conflict, but stress the objection is not against any religion or race and that they reject hatred toward any group.

Houghton (below), an eight-time Grammy Award winner, is scheduled to perform in Sabah later this month.

Only truth : Let the concert go on as scheduled. We have had enough of people making police reports which does not involve them This is purely a Christian gathering involving gospel singing. 

Why should others poke their business into this, anyone has the right to their opinion, Where does it say that we all should think alike and do only what a certain group want What if it was the other way around ,will there be any noise made Sabah show how to respect each others religion

GP2025 : The singer has been invited to Sabah for religious reasons, not political reasons. As long as he is advised not to use the religious platform to advocate his political stance, the concert should go on. That’s Sabahans’ constitutional right and should be respected, esp since they form the majority there.

BlueShark1548 : Well spoken by a Sabahan.Sabah is not the peninsula where narrow-mindedness is a common trait of our religious heads.They can have a say here but not in Sabah where Christians were in the majority before. 

The successful holding of the concert will show the world what religious harmony we have in East Malaysia.Sabah people and police can manage the concert in peace Show your autonomy and confidence and have faith in Sabahans.

Sealthedeal : How pathetic does it get. The United Sabah Islamic Association (Usia) and Sabah Islamic NGOs are hysterical and forget where they are. Sabah is not an Islamic state. Kick these trouble makers out.

BusinessFirst : Thousands of reports against certain preachers also no action why the zeal when it comes to two reports?

KitaBoleh : If you are losing sleep over someone's name, then you should go back to school again. Our fellow citizens have biblical names and there hasn't been any issue. So, what's the problem with Israel?

Optimus : For those who are losing sleep over this concert, then don't attend but do not let the disease of religious disharmony that occurs ever so frequently over in the peninsula spread over to East Msia. 

Once the religious extremists take a foothold, the other religions would be trampled on and that will be the end of the road for religious harmony.

wayang : Sabah must not allow itself to become like the peninsula, afraid of religious bigots running paranoid trying to push their own personal agenda in making mountains out of a mole hill.

Headhunter : Looks like Sabah is being influenced by Malayan politics. If the fanatics are not stop in their track, brace for more ridiculous demands in the future.

There is conflicting information on his band’s social media page advertising a concert on Oct 22 and screenshots from a ticket-selling platform stating it would be on Oct 25.