‘Mamangkis’ – a war cry revived for Christian unity in Sabah
The Ant Daily Team
It is now apparent that some Christian groups in Sabah are taking allegations of “forced conversion” in the state very seriously.
One group, Perpaduan Anak Negeri Sabah (PAN), which claims to represent various Christian denominations in the state has embarked on a religious revival campaign in a big way.
It is even reviving the spirit of an old Kadazan Dusun Murut war cry “mamangkis” which was used by their ancestors to rally warrior troops for battle.
PAN chairperson Esther Golingi explained that the calls now are being “contextualised as a Christian clarion call for revival.” The group has organised mamangkis events in several parts of the state and its recent one in Ranau was well attended.
According to Golingi, PAN’s revival campaign was targeted at unity among indigenous Christians in the state.
“We are worried that the religious freedom guaranteed in the Federal Constitution was no longer being upheld and we urge Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to speak up on the “Allah” issue for Christian Bumiputeras in Sabah”, she was quoted in the Malaysian Insider as saying.
“We want the PM to say something. He is not a PM for the Malays only but a PM for everyone,” Golingi added.
Since Umno’s entry into Sabah in the early 90’s coupled with ‘Project M’ in which hundreds of thousands of immigrants were given citizenships in a haphazard manner, Muslims have overtaken Christians as the majority religious group in the state.
Conversion from one faith to another is one’s personal decision which must be respected. Christian ministers from both Sabah and Sarawak had rightly called on all to respect the individual’s choice of faith.
However, what is of major concern to Sabah Christians was dubious attempts to convert some of their flock to Islam. They have alleged that such efforts carried out by certain groups have accelerated of late.
One such dubious attempt was reported recently where a group of 64 people, including children, from three villages in the remote Pitas district – Kampung Layung Maliau, Dowokon and Sosop – were tricked into converting to Islam.
The report alleged that a neighbour told them “some people from Kuala Lumpur” were offering them “financial assistance” of RM800 but only if they went to Pitas to collect it.
On New Year’s Day, they did. Instead of receiving the financial assistance at the Pitas town hall, they claimed they were made to go to a nearby mosque instead.
There the villagers were given RM100 and asked to put their thumbprint on a document. They were then told to stand in a line and recite some “foreign words”.
