Published on: Friday, August 25, 2006 |
MENGGATAL: National Day and Independence Day are historically two different dates but what matters most is one's love and patriotism for the country and State.
"As a Malaysian, I would say that the dates would not in any way affect my patriotism for the country and State," said Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.
"Whether it is 49 years or 43 years, it is something that will not diminish our patriotic feeling for the nation and for our State," he said after closing a Kem Tunas Rakan Muda programme at the multi-purpose hall, here, Thursday.
Masidi, who is Chairman of the State-level celebration of National Day, said the Government would see how best to address the matter.
"But the fact that we are hosting the closing of the (National Day) celebration, shows the degree of respect the Federal Government has placed upon Sabah," he said.
He agreed that the public should know their history well by remembering the actual dates that led to the celebration of National Day and Independence Day.
Masidi said it was a good idea that the public is reminded of the actual dates so as to be "historically correct"
He was commenting on Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan's statement that there are two very important dates that every Malaysian should remember, particularly during the Merdeka Month celebration.
The dates are Aug. 31, 1957 when Malaya achieved its independence and Sept 16, 1963 when Malaysia was officially formed involving the merger of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak. Singapore, later, decided to withdraw from the federation.
Masidi said he fully subscribed to Pairin's remarks but pointed out that what matters most was one's love and patriotism for the country and State. Pairin had said that the formation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963 should be remembered as a very important date.
He said the concept of the celebration should be continued so that all Malaysians would feel they are part of the Merdeka Month.
According to him, this would certainly become a catalyst to patriotism among Malaysians in the Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak.
He said former Information Minister, Datuk Kadir Sheikh Fadzir had announced during the closing of the Merdeka Month at Taman Jitra, Kedah, on Sept 16, last year, that the next celebration should be called "Merdeka Month 2006" and so on without saying the number of years being celebrated.
