CM: Preserve racial harmony in Sabah
Developing state is important but ensuring unity also essential, says Shafie
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s racial harmony must be preserved even as the people focus on developing the state, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
Speaking at the Mooncake Carnival 2019 at the city’s Foh Sang township, he said it was important for everyone to play their part to ensure harmony prevailed.
“We all must give more focus on the development of the state while ensuring the unity among the people is preserved.
“The government of today is not from one particular racial or religious group, but from a multi-ethnic and multi-religious group that reflects the unity of the people,” said Shafie, whose multiracial Parti Warisan Sabah leads the ruling state coalition.
As such, he said the people must focus their energy on constructive matters.
“We urge the people and all leaders to focus on the state’s development and betterment. The time for politicking is over,” he said at the annual festive celebration at Luyang here.
Shafie also expressed his concern over certain “irresponsible” groups which were pushing religious and racial agendas to divide the people for their selfish gain.
“In Sabah, we must remember that we are unique because various religious, racial and ethnic groups are present within our own families. So, issues of race and religion should not be used to break up the people just because certain groups have ulterior political agendas,” he said.
Shafie said Sabah was poised to move ahead with plans to further develop the state’s oil and gas, agriculture and tourism sectors.
“We have the recipe for the state’s development. Apart from seeking 20% oil royalty, we have identified other resources to increase our revenue for our state budget when it is tabled in November,” he said, adding that the state was gearing up to export agricultural products such as vegetables.
At the function on Saturday, Shafie also presented RM100,000 as a contribution from the state for the carnival organisers headed by state Youth and Sports Minister Phoong Jin Zhe, who is also the Luyang assemblyman.
Some 60 stalls were put up for the celebration that saw hundreds of people turning up for the evening cultural shows.