KUCHING: Sarawak must protect its culture of multiracial and multireligious harmony from extremism, says Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

       The Chief Minister expressed his concerns over the now-resolved Timah issue, saying the home-grown whiskey's name was not a problem in Sarawak.

       "Just because the name Timah could be a woman's name, it becomes a problem. Timah doesn't only mean a woman's name, it also means tin.

       "This small thing becomes sensitive. For us, (it's) no big deal," he said when opening Miri City Hall's new building in Miri on Monday (Nov 15).

       On a similar note, Abang Johari said it was not a problem for Christians in Sarawak to use the word Allah.

       "You go ahead, it's between you and God. Why worry, what for create unnecessary problems," he said.

       He noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob chose to launch the Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) concept in Kuching last month because Sarawak embodied the concept.

       "So don't spoil this culture. If (Peninsular-based) parties want to come here, they will bring their culture and create problems for us," he added.

       As such, Abang Johari said he had told Federal leaders to let the coming Sarawak state election be confined to Sarawakians.

       "This is because firstly, Sarawak's problems can only be handled by Sarawakians.

       "Secondly, we must defend our rights within Malaysia," he said.

       The state election must be held within 60 days of Nov 3, when the Sarawak legislative assembly was dissolved upon the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's consent to terminate the statewide Emergency.