Published on: Monday, January 03, 2005 |
Kota Kinabalu: It was a sombre New Year here with many people deciding to stay at home to usher 2005.
Some lit candles at the popular Tanjung Aru beach to join the rest of the world in remembering the some 125,000 who died in the deadly tsunami that struck 12 nations on Dec 26.
The number of revellers at Tanjung Lipat situated at Likas Bay another popular spot was unlike previous years when people had to tie a rope around trees or set up camp earlier in the day to claim the area fearing it would be crowded.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman held a "hajat" and "tahlil" prayers at his residence in Jalan Tuaran, which was attended by State Umno leaders on New Year eve.
He had said earlier that the State Government would comply with the request by the Prime Minister to shelve all celebrations to usher the New Year as a mark of respect for the victims and families. PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also urged everyone to offer prayers.
Police and rela members as well as the Road Transport Department were seen patrolling areas to ensure public order.
Elsewhere, prayers were also held at the Pasupatinath Hindu temple in Bukit Padang, churches and Buddhist temples. In addition, the Sabah Council of Churches (SCC) earmarked two Sundays - January 2 and 9 - for member churches to dedicate special prayers for the victims.
Its Chairman Bishop Datuk Voo Thien Fui said congregations are expected to make donations to help alleviate the plight of the victims. "By Jan. 10, we would be able to forward the total sum to the Christian Federation of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.
"It would be channelled to the victims through the International Church Relief Organisation," he said. The Red Cross and Christian Aid are among those actively helping victims in Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka.
Members of the SCC are the Roman Catholic Church, Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM), Anglican Church, Protestant Church in Sabah (PCS), Sabah Evangelical Mission, Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB), Grace Chapel, Methodist Church, Calvary Charismatic Church and Likas Baptist Church.
Members of the Buddhist Light International Association (BLIA) Buddhist Association Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan converged on the Fo Guang Shan Sabah Meditation Society Temple at Damai Point here to chant and pray for victims of the Tsunami tragedy last Friday night.
The Fo Guang Shan Sabah Meditation Society is a religious society made up of monks and nuns.
The service was led by Venerable J. Wu, a Buddhist nun.
"We also held a food bazaar to raise money for the Tsunami Fund. By doing so, we created awareness among the younger generation on the need to render assistance to humanity affected by natural disasters," said Association President Seeto Yee.
Among the first donors were businesswoman Pun Yun Chin who contributed RM2,000 and students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
Yee said Fo Guang Shan's headquarters in Taiwan donated US$100,000 in aid of Tsunami victims and mobilised necessary aid to the affected countries. Its branch in Singapore has despatched food supplies and medical aid to Sri Lanka and Banda Aceh.
"Groups of Buddhist monks serving in Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka also rendered assistance within their capacities."
According to him, Fo Guang Shan's support strategies include rebuilding homes for the victims and providing psychological counselling to children who lost both parents in the catastrophe.
