Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Jeffrey Kitingan said he found the photo confusing as the event is supposed to be religious in nature and organised by the Sabah Murut Borneo Evangelical Church Association but would be attended by politicians.
“So, what is this programme actually? Is it a religious programme or a political event?” Kitingan asked, adding that the theme, “Kebaktian Kebangunan Rohani’ (spiritual devotion), is religious in nature.
The photo, featuring the pictures of Shafie and other Warisan leaders, states that the event will be held from Oct 25 to 27 at the Sipitang community hall.
It also displays the logos of the Borneo Evangelical Church, the Sabah government, KDM Malaysia and Sipitang District Council.
Kitingan, who is also the Keningau MP and Tambunan assemblyman, said the event might have something to do with the recent fracas involving the Murut native chiefs which saw two politicians – Sabah PKR youth chief Raymond Ahuar and Warisan vice-president and KDM Malaysia president Peter Anthony – exerting their influence and powers over the community.
Anthony was allegedly unhappy that Ahuar invited all Murut native chiefs and leaders to a workshop in Penampang where the participants signed a declaration supporting PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to be the next prime minister.
He ordered the native chiefs who signed the declaration to submit show cause letters explaining their participation in the programme.
Two of the native chiefs even lodged police reports against Ahuar, claiming they were deceived into attending the event.
To clear his name, Ahuar, backed by some 700 supporters, lodged a police report to counter the reports against him on Monday.
Kitingan said it was too much of a coincidence that the photo suddenly became viral just two days later.
“But, more importantly, what the public wants to know is why political leaders are involved in official church functions?” he asked.
He maintained that religion and politics should be separated and found it troubling that some quarters have no problem mixing the two for personal gains.
