Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has opposed attempts to regulate social interactions, calling them out of touch with Sabah’s realities.

The Sabah Finance Minister says Sabahans have celebrated together for generations—without any need for formal guidelines.

He said the idea was not only unnecessary and contrary to efforts to foster unity but could also fracture long-standing community ties.

“The moment we introduce such a guideline, we are injecting a sense of distrust among our own people simply because of religious differences,” he told reporters when met at the Liberal Democratic Party Chinese New Year event in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday. 

Masidi is Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) secretary-general and Gagasan Rakyat deputy president. 

According to him, the idea of regulating social interactions contradicts Sabah’s already deep-rooted interfaith bonds.

“I myself have non-Muslim relatives. If I am invited to celebrate a festival with them, do I need to refer to a guideline? We have never had this problem before,” he said.

His remarks come after the federal government decided to reject the proposed guidelines, a move Masidi fully supports.

“As Muslims, we are confident in our faith. We do not need guidance from humans when our religion has already outlined the boundaries of our interactions,” he said.

He also pointed to Sultan Selangor’s statement that such guidelines are unnecessary, emphasizing that efforts should focus on strengthening, not restricting, interfaith ties. – February 9, 2025.