Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) are jointly holding Sumondot Hari Sabah programmes in view of the Sabah Day celebration effective this year.
It would be carried out throughout Sabah with the division level starting on Aug 13 in Lahad Datu and ending in Kota Kinabalu on Aug 31.
According to SAPP Youth leader Jamain Sarudin, an estimated 1,000 people would witness the closing at Taman Chong Thien Vun, here, starting at 2pm.
He hoped history textbooks would now include Sabah Day in the school syllabus. Sarawak celebrates Sarawak Day every July 22.
“Although there are discordant voices from opposition supporters who dispute Sabah Day, as people who love their country, it is necessary to set aside political sentiments and be proud that the people of Sabah can enjoy the day of liberation from British colonialism with self-government on Aug 31, 1963 before the formation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963,” he said.
During the programme, the original Sabah flag of 1963-1982 will also be flown for the purpose of historical education, especially for the youths.
Sumondot in the Dusun language means towards or moving towards.
SAPP and Star have been the backbone of this programme since 2012 and now in collaboration with Gabungan Sabah, Pakatan Harapan, PCS and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah.
Several NGOs also became organising partners such as Sabah Youth Solidarity (SYS), Borneo Heritage Foundation (BHF) and Sabah People’s Education Improvement Organisation (Pipa) and Mosik and received participation from various other NGOs from all over Sabah, until the State Government gave the green light to hold a government-level celebration last year in Tambunan.
The Sabah Government gazetted Sabah Day on June 5 and was published on June 20.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the Sabah Day celebration was held online, and Datuk Jalumin Bayogoh and Japiril Suhaimin were co-organisers.
