KOTA KINABALU,: The state government’s recognition of Sabah Day, and making it an annual celebration starting this year, is a right move which better tell Sabah’s history and its significance, said Tan Sri T.C Goh, President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS).
He believed it would also instill pride in the people of Sabah.
“For the state government, both National Day and Sabah Day are equally important. But, for many Sabahans, ‘Sabah Day’ and the forthcoming ‘Malaysia Day’ are obviously more meaningful than the National Day !” he said this while welcoming and supporting the state government’s recognition of Sabah Day and the hosting of its inaugural celebration today, concurrently with the National Day celebration.
Goh who is also President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) expressed this while leading the FCAS delegation to participate in the parade held in conjunction with the National Day celebration, at the Padang Merdeka here, today. Accompanying him was his spouse, Puan Sri Joanne Ho. Also in attendance were the three vice presidents of FCAS, Kapitan Lim Vun Chan, Ng Young Wah and David Chan, its Treasurer-general Chen Ea Sheng, and its youth chief, Chang Jeng Yung, among others.
Goh opined that although the two major celebrations of National Day and Sabah Day were celebrated on the same day, but separately, it did not affect their significance.
He also welcomed and supported the state government’s choosing of Tambunan as the venue for the inaugural celebrations of Sabah Day, and to celebrate it annually with the venue to be rotated among the districts. He said such a move would better allow the people of Sabah to participate in its celebrations.
He acknowledged that in the past, Sabah Day was only celebrated by some Sabah-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs). However, with persistent lobbying by some Sabah-based political parties, the Sabah State Cabinet under the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor’s leadership, finally decided that the celebrations to mark Sabah’s important historical milestone, be celebrated annually with the venue to be rotated among the districts.
He reminded that, according to history of the nation, Malaya (Peninsula Malaysia) gained its independence from the British on 31 August, 1957, while Sabah succeeded in gaining self-rule from the British empire on 31 August, 1963, before joining Malaya, Sarawak and Singapore to form the Federation of Malaysia, 16 days later, on 16 September, 1963. Sarawak gained self-rule from the British on 22 July, 1963. Singapore later left the Federation on 9 August, 1965 to form an independent state.
“Hence, the Sabah state government’s decision to officially commemorate the day Sabah became independent from British rule 60 years ago, on 31 August, starting this year, is indeed very significant and meaningful for the people of Sabah!” he concluded.-pr/BNN
