Moderate Voice in Rising Extremism in Malaysia

Mission schools and government-aided Chinese schools in Sabah have long had a love–hate relationship with the Federal Government. On one hand, they often find certain education policies difficult to accept, sometimes even repugnant. On the other, they are occasionally “appeased” by grants or handouts to their institutions. Since education falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal rather than the State Government, this dynamic has been a recurring theme for decades.

That said, the State Government of Sabah has also played a role in supporting education. A good example is the new wing of the Kindergarten operated by the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia in Kota Belud. The project would not have been possible without a state grant. Even so, the grant only partially covered the costs, and it took seven years (1999–2006) before the building was fully completed.

On 14 November 2014, the Kindergarten celebrated its 20th Anniversary. I had the privilege of being invited to the celebration, having served as the Consulting Engineer (C&S) for the new block on a pro bono basis - a contribution that made the project personally meaningful to me.

It was evident that the Kindergarten had chosen the right guest of honour for the occasion: former Chief Minister and current Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, Salleh Keruak. On that day, he spoke less like a parochial politician and more like a national statesman. His message was not the rhetoric of exclusivity often associated with his political party, but one of inclusiveness - affirming the place of all Malaysians regardless of race or religion. He explicitly supported the Kindergarten’s policy of welcoming and educating children from both Muslim and non-Muslim families, a stance that resonated deeply with the audience.

What set him apart even further was his courage to take a moral stand against his party’s prevailing narrative. He was, in fact, one of the few within his circle who openly “admonished” the former Prime Minister for tacitly endorsing a Muslim NGO that had outrageously suggested the burning of Bibles containing the word Allah. In a political climate where silence or conformity is often the safer path, his voice stood out as rare and refreshing.

The audience responded warmly - his speech drew such enthusiastic applause that it fell just short of a standing ovation. His support for the Kindergarten also appeared genuine, underscored by his consistent annual allocation of RM15,000 from his YB fund to sustain its operations.

Sadly, in Malaysia, too many politicians speak not out of conviction, but out of calculation. They say what they believe will secure votes, not what they truly believe is right. Their priority is to cling to power; everything else is secondary.

Whether Salleh’s sincerity marks the beginning of a shift, or merely a solitary voice in the wilderness, only time will tell.