It may cost the Church Council a millon Ringgit in legal fee

To file this case if it is proceeded is indirectly implicate DSSA as it that issue..and adverse impact on DSSA and so the fight can be long..and costly.  Lets see what would happen soon...

Church official demands apology

Published on: Sunday, November 26, 2017

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Council of Churches (SCC) President Bishop Datuk Melter Jiki Tais said his words were misinterpreted when he commented on freedom of religion in Sabah recently.

"I am saddened when I was informed of a news portal that misinterpreted my words as to be directed at an opposition party," he said to FMT.

Melter said not only the portal put words in his mouth, it also used his picture together with a photo of the opposition party leader on the website.

Expressing regret, Melter emphasised that the church is apolitical and should not be used as a political tool by any side.

"I was merely saying that Christians in the State have been enjoying freedom to worship and that we have no issues here, even on the use of the word Allah," he said.

The article in the Malay-language Sabah-based news portal titled "Majlis Gereja Selar Presiden Warisan Politikkan Agama Kristian" (Council of Churches Slammed Warisan President for Politicising Christianity), was uploaded on Wednesday night.

The article also stated Melter "criticised the attitude of Parti Warisan Sabah leaders who used religion for politics." On Tuesday, following a courtesy call on Chief Minister Musa Aman at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly building to extend an official invitation to the Chief Minister to grace the Kota Kinabalu Christmas Celebration 2017, Melter had said that Sabahans have always been living in harmony despite religious differences.

He also pointed out that it had been a privilege and a blessing to live in Sabah where freedom of religion is guaranteed and people of different faiths live like brothers and sisters.

Melter, who is also Anglican Diocese of Sabah Bishop, had used the occasion to thank Musa for the continued financial support from the State Government to non-Muslim bodies and schools in the State.

"For the record, I have never commented anything on politics during the meeting. I did not mention any political party.

The article made it looked like the President of the SCC or churches in Sabah are favouring one political party over another.

"Because of the damage it has done, I demand an apology from the said news portal and to remove the article from its site within three days, failing which, legal action will be taken against them," he said.