SANDAKAN: State Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib urged all ethnic associations in Sabah to preserve their diverse culture so that they can remain strong as they progress.According to James, doing so will assist in introducing Sabah’s diverse ethnicity to the rest of the world.
“Raise our ethnicity to a higher level,” he told a media conference after officiating the Persatuan Bangsa Sungai Sabah (Sabas) appreciation ceremony, here.
Also present were Majlis Gabungan Etnik Sabah (Magebs) Chairman Datuk Abdullah Sibil and Sabas President Datuk Juhari Janan.
During the ceremony, James also presented the Sabas’ most prestigious award - the Tagajoh Gayoh title - to the late Datuk Wahid Norbinsa.
The late Wahid was a former Sabas president who made popular the organisation’s name to the other communities.
Artists, academicians and sportsmen, among others, received a total of 40 awards during the ceremony. The recipients are all from the Sungai community in Sabah.
James also announced an allocation of RM200,000 for Sabas activities.
