Tuesday, May 08, 2007
In favour of Muslims,non-Muslim lose out
I never objected, says Musa 04 May, 2007
Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said he never objected to the proposed construction of the Mazu statue (Chinese Goddess of the Sea) in Kudat.
"The application made by the Kudat Thean Hon Charitable Foundation came to my attention due to objections raised by various organisations to the statue's proposed location," he said in a statement, Thursday.
Musa advised the parties concerned to take into consideration all the objections before proceeding with the construction of the statue.
"I also advised that there are better and more appropriate sites in Kudat for the statue to be built."
He said any decision made should be in the best interest of all communities to maintain the existing harmony among the diverse communities in the area.
He was responding to several Chinese associations in the State that have come out in support of the construction of the statue. The 10-storey structure was in the process of completion before it was ordered to stop by the local authority.
President of SUCCC Datuk Seri Sari Tan said the project should bode well for tourism in Kudat and for Malaysia's image of harmony and tolerance among the people.
DAP Adviser, Lim Kit Siang, who is also opposition Parliament leader, also said the project would be economically good for Sabah and Malaysia.
President of Sabah Taoist Association Wong Kok Leong said the association also felt that the project would definitely benefit the tourism industry but added their view should not be misconstrued as a show of support for DAP.
Travel operators believed that the statue would be another selling point for Kudat as a tourist destination already made well known for its Tip of Borneo. The Mazu statue in Macau draws millions of tourists.
Nation Tuesday May 8, 2007
Alternative site offer for Ma Zu statue
By MUGUNTAN VANAR
KOTA KINABALU: The state government has offered to provide an alternative site and compensate the Kudat Thean Hon Charitable Foundation after the state issued a stop order on the construction of the state’s tallest Ma Zu statue in northern Kudat.
“We are ready to compensate them for whatever costs they have incurred, provide them an alternative site for free and we are ready to provide the infrastructure if it is lacking in the area identified,” Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said yesterday.
Musa was speaking to reporters after meeting some 50 representatives from Christian, Buddhist and Taoist groups to explain the stop order and to allay non-Muslim fears that religious freedom was being curbed, especially after allegations made by his former deputy Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat.
However, the Kudat Thean Hon Charitable Foundation was not present at the closed-door meeting that was also attended by state Cabinet ministers and senior Chinese party leaders from the Barisan Nasional.
Musa told reporters that Chong was stirring up religious issues in a bid to character-assassinate him.
He said the state government's order to stop the half-completed project was due to mounting opposition from various groups, including Masjid As-Syakirin Kudat, Abim and the United Sabah Islamic Association.
Buddhist Foundation of Sabah representative Tsen Nyuk Vun said the chief minister had explained the reasons for the stop order and it was clear that the situation arose due to “exceptional circumstances.”
“Though we empathise with the Thean Hon Foundation, we hope the matter will be looked at in a rational manner.
“We hope the foundation will consider the state’s offer and minimise politicising the issue,” he said.
He added that the religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution was being guarded safely by the state government.
Sabah Taoist Association chairman Wong Ka Leong said he hoped the foundation would take up the government’s offer in the interest of unity and harmony.
Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said he never objected to the proposed construction of the Mazu statue (Chinese Goddess of the Sea) in Kudat.
"The application made by the Kudat Thean Hon Charitable Foundation came to my attention due to objections raised by various organisations to the statue's proposed location," he said in a statement, Thursday.
Musa advised the parties concerned to take into consideration all the objections before proceeding with the construction of the statue.
"I also advised that there are better and more appropriate sites in Kudat for the statue to be built."
He said any decision made should be in the best interest of all communities to maintain the existing harmony among the diverse communities in the area.
He was responding to several Chinese associations in the State that have come out in support of the construction of the statue. The 10-storey structure was in the process of completion before it was ordered to stop by the local authority.
President of SUCCC Datuk Seri Sari Tan said the project should bode well for tourism in Kudat and for Malaysia's image of harmony and tolerance among the people.
DAP Adviser, Lim Kit Siang, who is also opposition Parliament leader, also said the project would be economically good for Sabah and Malaysia.
President of Sabah Taoist Association Wong Kok Leong said the association also felt that the project would definitely benefit the tourism industry but added their view should not be misconstrued as a show of support for DAP.
Travel operators believed that the statue would be another selling point for Kudat as a tourist destination already made well known for its Tip of Borneo. The Mazu statue in Macau draws millions of tourists.
Nation Tuesday May 8, 2007
Alternative site offer for Ma Zu statue
By MUGUNTAN VANAR
KOTA KINABALU: The state government has offered to provide an alternative site and compensate the Kudat Thean Hon Charitable Foundation after the state issued a stop order on the construction of the state’s tallest Ma Zu statue in northern Kudat.
“We are ready to compensate them for whatever costs they have incurred, provide them an alternative site for free and we are ready to provide the infrastructure if it is lacking in the area identified,” Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said yesterday.
Musa was speaking to reporters after meeting some 50 representatives from Christian, Buddhist and Taoist groups to explain the stop order and to allay non-Muslim fears that religious freedom was being curbed, especially after allegations made by his former deputy Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat.
However, the Kudat Thean Hon Charitable Foundation was not present at the closed-door meeting that was also attended by state Cabinet ministers and senior Chinese party leaders from the Barisan Nasional.
Musa told reporters that Chong was stirring up religious issues in a bid to character-assassinate him.
He said the state government's order to stop the half-completed project was due to mounting opposition from various groups, including Masjid As-Syakirin Kudat, Abim and the United Sabah Islamic Association.
Buddhist Foundation of Sabah representative Tsen Nyuk Vun said the chief minister had explained the reasons for the stop order and it was clear that the situation arose due to “exceptional circumstances.”
“Though we empathise with the Thean Hon Foundation, we hope the matter will be looked at in a rational manner.
“We hope the foundation will consider the state’s offer and minimise politicising the issue,” he said.
He added that the religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution was being guarded safely by the state government.
Sabah Taoist Association chairman Wong Ka Leong said he hoped the foundation would take up the government’s offer in the interest of unity and harmony.
