Muslims told to work hard, not blame others
The ‘Malay supremacy' mentality, the dependency on subsidy and irresponsibility attitude need to be changed because this syndrome will cause the people of Tawau to remain behind other people, said Tanjung Batu assemblywoman Datuk Hamisa Samat.
Muslims in Tawau should not point fingers and continue to blame others if they themselves do not work hard and do not want to be self-reliant, she said at the Persatuan Kebangsaan Melayu Tawau (PKMT) annual general meeting (AGM).
Hamisa, who is a former member of PKMT and was involved in the association's reactivation movement from 1992-1993, said other people wake up early, are self-reliant, are not relying solely on government assistance and are not choosy about work, even a low-paying job, while some people in Tawau, who are left behind, always expect and rely heavily on government assistance besides being choosy about work.
Hence, she said, this ‘Malay supremacy' mindset must be changed to ‘Malay excellence', subsidy mindset changed to contribute and the ‘not caring' mindset changed to concern.
Hamisa likened the PKMT to a rainbow which consists of various layers of colour that depict the various ethnics within it to make it look more beautiful.
“We need to find a point of unity to unite the community rather than finding a point of strife. I was elected and won as the people's representative because I was elected by the majority of people comprising of various ethnicities. If only people of the same ethnic group voted for me, it would be impossible for me to win as the people's representative until today,” Hamisa said.
The PKMT AGM for 2019 held recently was conducted successfully. PKMT, which is the oldest organization in Tawau, has members of various ethnic groups within the Tawau Malay Muslim community. The vision and mission has been clear and consistent since its inception in 1938, which, for the past 81 years, has sought to unite all ethnic groups in the Muslim Malay community from the time of the British, the Japanese, Independence and the formation of Malaysia until now.
A new supreme council was elected during the AGM. For the upcoming term, PKMT will continue to be led by the OKK Haji Mohd Ayub Kee Abu Bakar as president and Ismail Awang as deputy president.
There are new and old faces re-elected for the coming term. The combination of old and new will certainly enhance the movement to implement the goals and resolutions of the PKMT.
Among the resolutions and directions outlined during the AGM this year, PKMT resolved to fully support and celebrate the existence of various associations to represent every ethnic group in Tawau, because only through these associations can the traditions, customs and history of the ethnic group be maintained. In addition, PKMT also called on all ethnic groups in Tawau to collaborate and help in the economic, social, welfare and other aspects for the unity of the Tawau community with its unique ethnic diversity.
PKMT also strongly supports the statement by Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie Apdal, that he is the Chief Minister of Sabah for all races and religions and not the Chief Minister of any particular race or religion.
In line with this, PKMT expects leaders in Tawau to continue to emulate the Sabah Chief Minister's approach and leadership to be a fair leader or representative for all ethnic groups in Tawau by taking care of the welfare and needs of the people as a whole rather than focusing only on certain race and religions.
This approach will certainly maintain the sensitivity of relationships and unity among the people of Tawau to live closer together and in harmony.
Touching a little on the history of unity among the people of Tawau in the past, it is evident that that the older generation, regardless of race and religion, lived in very close contact and helped one another. The word ‘racist' or racial was never in their life dictionary at that time.
The AGM concluded with the presentation of new PKMT membership cards to the supreme council members followed by presentation of the membership card to Datuk Hajah Hamisa Samat by president Mohd Ayub Kee Abu Bakar, who was a former Tawau district chief.
PKMT elected supreme council members for 20192020 are president: OKK Haji Mohd Ayub Kee Abu Bakar; deputy president: Ismail Haji Awang; vice president 1: Basir Yahya; vice president 2: Puan Hajah Ruhaya Yunus; vice president 3: Tuan Hj Ahmad Hj Puniman; vice president 4: Puan Hajah Zaiton Hj Tahassan; secretary: Tuan Hj Ramleen Ahmad; treasurer: Puan Hajah Hindun DSP Hj Abu Bakar Titingan; and committee members: Tuan Hj Jamal Hj Kee Sulaiman, Saharuddin Salleh, Rosmin Kasmin, Puan Hajah Sharifah Zainab Syed Ali, Saadiah Hj Abdul Razak, Puan Hajah Dayang Naimah Maidin, Ustaz Abdul Razali Abdullah Sani, Kamarudin Gani, Tuan Hj Yusof Hj Ahmad, and Gusti Kasan A. Ahmad.