Time to reflect on founding fathers

Putatan: The Malaysia Day celebration this Sunday is not just about remembering the date and year but to commemorate the huge contributions by past leaders towards the formation of Malaysia such as late Tun Datu Mustapha Harun and late Tun Fuad Stephens.Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said those two leaders were among prominent figures, including G.S Sundang, who contributed a lot to the historical date (of Sept. 16, 1963).

Hence, it is timely to instil values among the people especially the young not only to realise the formation but to remember those who had made historical contributions and their sacrifices to the development of the country.

"I am paying respects to the burial place of the late Tun Mustapha who was the first Governor and third Chief Minister. I also visited the memorial gallery set up to commemorate his contribution to Sabah and formation of Malaysia as well as paid respects to the burial place of Tun Fuad at the State Mosque.

"I am doing this in conjunction with Malaysia Day, which is a very meaningful date for the people in Sabah where Sabah was no longer colonised and the date is also an important one for Malaysia," he said.

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Shafie was the first Chief Minister to pay respect to the two past leaders. Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Jaujan Sambakong, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony, Education and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, Law and Native Affairs Minister Datuk Aidi Moktar, several assistant ministers, State Secretary Datuk Hashim Paijan and senior officials.

"Visiting and paying respects to the two leaders was to blend it with celebration of Malaysia on Sept 16. It is not good enough to only have a function in Dataran Merdeka.

"The formation of Malaysia is indeed crucial and not only to remember what has been embedded in the agreement but to realise and recognise that they took all the efforts and troubles and pain such as going to United Kingdom and villages in Sabah to ask the people of Sabah, Sarawak and Tanah Melayu (peninsula), and that must be respected and realised."

Shafie said it is also imperative not to take lightly (formation) this country as it is not only belonged to the people in the peninsula or in Sabah or in Sarawak but to all Malaysians.

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He said the State Government invited everyone to come and celebrate the occasion, including the opposition.

"The Protocol have been instructed to invite everyone and it will be up to them (opposition) to come as invitations have been issued. I'm not going to force them. It's for the country. This is the moment of celebration irrespective your political beliefs. It (celebration of Malaysia Day) belongs to everyone and it does not belong to me," he said. - Hayati Dzulkifli

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