Sandakan folk celebrate Christmas
SANDAKAN: Ministry of Health and People's Wellbeing and Sandakan Parliamentary Constituency People's Service Centre collaborated with Sandakan Municipal Council and Sandakan Inter-church to host the Sandakan-level Christmas celebration at Municipal Field here Sunday evening.
The drizzle did not stop the celebration as locals who were present took cover at the grandstand to enjoy performances laid out by church members all over Sandakan and invited performers, right after the lighting of the Christmas tree on the field.
Sandakan Municipal Council president Datuk Peter Hii Chang Lik said the programme was a testimony that cooperation and tolerance among our diverse communities and religions not only existed, but also flourished among us.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health and People's Wellbeing cum Sandakan parliament member Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt said in his speech that the people should take lessons from riots, wars, and fights in other countries because there was lack of understanding between its people with different religions and races.
“We are blessed that in Sandakan, we are living in harmony with one another despite having different races, religions and backgrounds.
“However, we must never take this harmony for granted with the comfort that we are enjoying now. Understanding and unity among the people needs to be preserved so that it can be enjoyed by our future generations,” he said.
Also present were Minister of Youth and Sports cum Tanjong Papat assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Arifin Asgali, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing cum Karamunting assemblyman George Hiew Vun Zin, Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong, Rev. Bishop Datuk Julius Dusin Gitom, Uskup Keuskupan Sandakan, chairman of Sandakan Interchurch, Arch Deacon Yong Thiam Choi as well as district police chief ACP Mohd Azhar Hamin and other guests.