Continue to uphold altruism – Taib

KUCHING: The people must continue to uphold altruism to enhance social integrity and harmony.

Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud noted that Malaysians had transcended ethnicity in delivering community and welfare services, particularly in reaching out to the less fortunate.

“In Malaysia, there is an increasing trend towards helping all sections of the society rather than only the people of the same group.

“We have to become united as one, and it doesn’t have to be all one race or one religion. We need to show the ethics taught by our culture and religion to strive for the betterment of our society,” he said when opening the CHK Moral Uplifting Society Kidney Foundation Building and CHKMUS-MAA Medicare Charity Dialysis Centre at Jalan Kumpang off Jalan Ong Tiang Swee yesterday.

Taib said the government would continue to encourage more organisations to promote social welfare through its funding and programmes.

The former chief minister also recalled that during his tenure, the government was able to preserve harmony among all racial groups in the state.

He said individuals who were better off must try to help others who were in need, adding: “This is the rule we have to observe all the time to keep social dealings smooth.”

Taib also lauded the CHK Moral Uplifting Society for its continued efforts to help the poor.

Among those present were Taib’s wife Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Minister of Land Development Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, Assistant Minister of Welfare Robert Lawson Chuat and CHK Moral Uplifting Society Kidney Foundation chairman Datuk Tay Chin Kin.