MORE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE UNITY

KOTA BELUD: No effort must be spared to promote the spirit of unity and togetherness among East and West Malaysians, especially among the young generation, to ensure the rapid growth as well as foster peace and stability that is prevalent today.

Sabah State Assembly Speaker Datuk Salleh Said Keruak also encouraged Sabahans to proudly acknowledge that they are Malaysians from Sabah to avoid the misconception that Sabah is another country and not a part of Malaysia.

“We cannot run away from the fact that we are Malaysians although we fiercely call ourselves Sabahans, which I myself am proud to declare,” he made the remarks when  officiating the State-level Unity Week celebration in conjunction with Malaysia Day at Padang Pekan Kota Belud.

“However we must all look at the bigger picture and be proud of the Nation. Both August 31 and September 16 are important and significant dates for all Malaysians, irrespective of whether we are from Sabah, Kedah or Terengganu.”

Touching on unity, he said Malaysians from diverse races and ethnic groups had all this while lived in peace and harmony, something which people from other countries have marveled at.

Salleh said history books in the Malaysian school curriculum for upper secondary students must also contain accurate sections on Sabah and Sarawak, thus giving the young an opportunity to know more about the part of Malaysia across the South China Sea.   

Salleh added the national media could play a major role in promoting integration by dedicating one or two pages for news of Sabah, so that other Malaysians especially those in peninsular and Sarawak could know what is going on.

“The national media, both newspapers and television, does highlight east Malaysian news, but it comes out in their regional editions; as such readers in Penang for example, may not know what is going on in Sabah,” he said.

“It is also quite common to read that Malaysians comprise of Malays, Chinese and Indians, but conveniently left out are the indigenous tribes of Sabah and Sarawak, like the Kadazandusun as well as the Dayak or Ibans.”

Salleh who is also Kota Belud UMNO chief said television stations could highlight special segments on the people, culture and traditions of Sabah while successful businesses could be featured as well.

However he noted that with low cost airlines flying to several destinations in Sabah, more Malaysians from the peninsular was now visiting the State and this helped give them get a deeper understanding of the people and life here.

He also agreed that the remarks made by the Prime Minister that diversity in the country’s socio-culture is the country’s main asset and must be preserved and expanded under the 1 Malaysia concept.

 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his Malaysia Day message had reminded all Malaysians to continue to strongly protect the success in uniting the people of various races, religions and cultures.