Christmas best time for family, friends – Christina
TAWAU: The new government is very approachable and very tolerant and respects other religions and faith even though it is just six months old but people can see the difference.
Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Christina Liew said Christmas is the best time for family and friends to get together and the 2018 Tawau Inter-Church Christmas celebration by eight churches with it’s theme ‘Peace’ is very important.
“Let us join hands and have peace in our home, our heart so that we can forgive and forget and move on,” she said when met after officiating at the Tawau InterChurch Christmas Celebration at SJK (c) Yuk Chin Hall last night.
Christina, who is also the Tawau member of parliament, said with this year’s Christmas theme she is sure the Christian community and the Tawau people want peace.
“Peace comes when people learnt to respect and celebrate each other differences. And on a closer note, between family members and friends, love and forgiveness is very much needed.”
It’s (celebration) a wondeful thing, she said and this was the first time as elected MP representing Tawau she was able to come and celebrate this joyous occasion together with the Christian community here, and would like the churches to invite her every year as it is such a nice program.
The theme for this year combined church Christmas is Peace. Truly, Christmas is a celebration of joy and peace; a reminder of what Jesus Christ had done for all mankind. During the birth of Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago, the angels declared peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind.
It shows that mankind can actually work towards peace when they believed in God, she said.
The new state government, she said was committed to ensure the well being of the people . Through its various ministry it has been working very hard since its formation to bring about economic progress in different fields so that everyone in the community will be able to enjoy peace and prosperity.
“Even our Chief Minister came to officiate at the state level Christmas oppening in Kota Kinabalu. This is to what extent we are in. We believe we celebrate all occasions together, whether Hari Raya, Chinese New Year or Christmas,” she said.
“Of course all of us have to play our part as well. Without discipline and hard work we will not be able to see progress and the peace that we want,” she said.
She added other countries had been envious with us because of the unity and harmony that prevailed among the various races in this country in spite of the many challenges the country had to go through and she hopes the Christian community and the people of other races and religion will come together during this Christmas season to foster a closer relationship and enjoy the peace and harmony all longed for.
Christina also handed over the fund for the celebration as member of parliament to Chairman of Tawau Interchurch Committee Pastor Ho Teck Kee. Also present were Reverends, Father, Pastors, Bishop John Yeo, Church Leaders and about 2,000 Christians from all the churches.