Christmas event organised by the community, not Warisan, KDM Malaysia, says organiser
THE STAR
Sunday, 05 Jan 20203:18 PM MYT
By KRISTY INUS
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal addressing the crowd at the Christmas and New Year celebration.
BEAUFORT: The organiser of the Christmas and New Year 2020 celebration held in Membakut on Saturday (Jan 4) has chided Umno for linking the event with politics following the lucky draw controversy.
Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) community leader Peter Chang, who is the organising chairman representing Membakut Church, said the programme was organised by Christians in the area and everyone was invited, regardless of political affiliation.
"To appreciate Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who granted an extra holiday for Christmas on Christmas eve, we invited him as the guest of honour.
"The Christmas and New Year celebration in Membakut was not organised by Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) or KDM Malaysia, it was by the Christian community in Membakut.
"All expenses for the event were borne by the villagers who 'patak-patak' (local term for chipping in or going Dutch) or through collections.
“In this gathering, all are invited to attend including the opposition; there were also Umno and Barisan Nasional members who attended," Chang said in a statement Sunday (Jan 5).
He was responding to BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan's statement, reported by the Umno Online portal, that the party will file a report on allegations that lucky draw prizes, including a motorcycle, were offered during the event, which is against election regulations.
Sunday, 05 Jan 20203:18 PM MYT
By KRISTY INUS
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal addressing the crowd at the Christmas and New Year celebration.
BEAUFORT: The organiser of the Christmas and New Year 2020 celebration held in Membakut on Saturday (Jan 4) has chided Umno for linking the event with politics following the lucky draw controversy.
Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) community leader Peter Chang, who is the organising chairman representing Membakut Church, said the programme was organised by Christians in the area and everyone was invited, regardless of political affiliation.
"To appreciate Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who granted an extra holiday for Christmas on Christmas eve, we invited him as the guest of honour.
"The Christmas and New Year celebration in Membakut was not organised by Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) or KDM Malaysia, it was by the Christian community in Membakut.
"All expenses for the event were borne by the villagers who 'patak-patak' (local term for chipping in or going Dutch) or through collections.
“In this gathering, all are invited to attend including the opposition; there were also Umno and Barisan Nasional members who attended," Chang said in a statement Sunday (Jan 5).
He was responding to BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan's statement, reported by the Umno Online portal, that the party will file a report on allegations that lucky draw prizes, including a motorcycle, were offered during the event, which is against election regulations.
