Rising religious conservatism threatens Sabah and Sarawak's historic tolerance

The column highlights a series of events that signal a shift toward religious and racial conservatism in Sabah and Sarawak, including a parliamentary concern over children refusing to sit beside peers who eat pork or wear crucifixes, a 2024 petrol-bombing of a KK Mart store in Kuching linked to the “Allah” socks dispute, and protests over a concert by US gospel singer Israel Houghton. Although the Malay population has grown, the author contends that digital platforms spreading extremist rhetoric are the primary catalyst.

To preserve their historic pluralism, the states should revamp religious and history curricula, incorporate inclusive narratives, and embed Islamic values within the Rukun Negara to promote coexistence. Leveraging their autonomy—such as maintaining English as an official language—could help counter divisive ideologies. The writer concludes that inaction will allow the same sectarian tensions seen on the peninsula to take root in East Malaysia.