LAHAD DATU: Celebrating the festivals of other communities together in a harmonious environment has been a practice for a long time and has become a symbol of unity in this nation.
Silam Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Division Chief Datuk Mizma Appehdullah said celebrations such as the Chinese New Year can strengthen unity and harmony among the various communities.
She said these festive celebrations also allow everyone to further cultivate love, tolerance and mutual respect among themselves.
“The State Government consistently emphasises unity among the multi-ethnic and multi-religious society in the State. This can be seen where ‘Unity and Prosperity’ is one of the principles outlined in the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya,” she said.
She said this when representing Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Datuk Dr Roland Chia at the presentation of lion dance heads to the Chinese community in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.
Mizma said the contribution is a testament to the State Government’s commitment to maintaining unity, harmony and the prosperity of the people in Sabah, which is key to the State’s wellbeing and stability.
“We all need to play our roles as community members by practising tolerance and mutual respect, as well as celebrating the diversity of races and religions for the stability and prosperity of the nation.
“As emphasised by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also the President of Gagasan Rakyat, ‘This party is our home. It is our responsibility to care for our home.’
“Similarly, Sabah is our home, and we are responsible for ensuring that our home does not collapse due to a lack of unity among us,” she said.
