Preserve and strengthen religious unity through interfaith harmony
- nabalunews
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
25 May 2025
KIULU: An Interfaith Harmony Committee should be established in Kiulu to preserve and strengthen the existing religious unity within the community.
Kiulu Assemblyman, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, said the committee should comprise respected elders and leaders from all major faiths in Kiulu, including Islam, Roman Catholicism, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Sidang Injil Borneo.
“Its primary aim would be to uphold a high level of religious tolerance, mutual respect, and cooperation among communities,” Joniston said during a solar panel handover ceremony to SIB churches on Saturday.
“Kiulu has long enjoyed peaceful coexistence among its diverse religious groups, and this harmony must be safeguarded.
“To ensure this harmony endures, we need a dedicated platform for dialogue and collaboration between all religious groups,” he added.
Joniston, who also serves as Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, said the committee could additionally function as a platform for engagement between local communities and religious leaders.
He previously proposed organising an inclusive event involving all faiths, to be called the Kiulu Harmony Festival, as part of wider efforts to promote shared values and unity.
He noted that rural areas such as Kiulu often serve as exemplary models of how different religions can coexist with mutual respect.
“This is part of our identity, and we should be proud of it but we must also actively nurture it,” he added.
Joniston affirmed his continued commitment to supporting both as the physical development of places of worship and the promotion of religious activities.
