“It was a wonderful gathering and symbolizes the existing state of harmony in Sabah and Sarawak.”
KOTA KINABALU: The Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), which had banned Christmas celebrations on campus the last three years, finally relented this year and allowed the biggest gathering ever earlier this week which was attended by 2,000 people, mostly members of the public.
UMS Deputy Chancellor Students Affairs Ismail Ali said the celebrations proceeded smoothly and ample parking facilities were made available.
Sabah Special Functions Minister Teo Chee Kang, who usually attends to ethnic and religious affairs, was guest of honour.
“It was a wonderful gathering and symbolizes the existing state of harmony in Sabah and Sarawak,” said Teo.
The university’s ban on Christmas celebrations became public knowledge after it belatedly came to the attention of the United PasokMomogun KadazanDusunMurut Organisation (Upko) which went to town on the issue.
Upko Chief Madius Tangau demanded to know why Christian students of the university were being denied their rights in their own nation and had to make do with celebrations outside the campus.
The university administration said that it was all due to a “misunderstanding” and hastened to add that it had no objections to the celebrations, or that of any other religious or ethnic group, being held on the campus. In trotting out some lame excuses, the university “mumbled” something about having not enough parking facilities especially if the public were invited too and concerns about “security”.
Deputy Education Minister, Mary Yap of Tawau, came into the picture after being alerted by Madius and the university relented after her intervention.
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