PBS man slams PAS rep over call to segregate shopping trolleys

 

Sabah PAS representative Aliakbar Gulasan has urged supermarkets to be sensitive to the needs and sentiments of the various religions in the state. (Rawpixel pic)

KOTA KINABALU: A Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) leader has slammed a state PAS representative over his remarks on segregating shopping trolleys for non-halal products in local stores.

PAS’ nominated assemblyman Aliakbar Gulasan had urged all supermarkets and stores to be sensitive to the needs and sentiments of the various religions in Sabah.

He issued the statement after an incident at a supermarket in the interior Keningau district which, according to Aliakbar, was selling pork without segregating the trolleys used by its customers.

He said this was an insult to the sensitivities of the Muslim community, adding that the supermarket should have understood matters related to religion or checked with the religious authorities first.

PBS vice-president Johnny Mositun criticised the remarks by his Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ally, saying he was concerned over what he described as “the beginning of signs of extremism creeping into the state”.

In a statement, Mositun, a former state deputy speaker, said that as a Sabahan, he condemned this sort of religious extremism, and nobody should take a holier-than-thou attitude.

He said the 32 ethnic and sub-ethnic groups in Sabah had always been able to live and work together as one family, despite coming from different backgrounds.

“In fact, Sabah is the best example of religious tolerance and unity. In the past, we never heard the word ‘segregation’ as far as supermarket services are concerned in the state.

“We must maintain this at all cost and be cautious of certain groups trying to break this harmonious relationship.

“These people are trying to sow the seeds of hatred and divisions in others, be it on religious, racial or ethnic grounds.”

Aliakbar, in his statement on Monday, thanked netizens for playing a proactive role in speaking up over the incident at the supermarket.

He also congratulated the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) and the Keningau district council for resolving the issue.

Aliakbar said his statement had been misinterpreted and that he never called for stores and markets to stop selling non-halal products. - FMT