KOTA KINABALU: Tan Sri T.C Goh, the President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) and the President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) has called on the Sabah state government to list its “Chinese New Year Open House”, as an annual event to promote racial and cultural harmony among the multiracial people of Sabah.
He said, the said event hosted for the first time, this year, by the state government through the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, and co-hosted FCAS in conjunction with the Year of the Dragon Chinese New Year, on the 1st day of the Chinese New Year celebrations, was hugely successful where it attracted over 10,000 people of various ethnicities.
He thus opined that it was a resounding testimony that such an event is capable of promoting greater unity and harmony among people of different races in the state, thus deserving to be held annually.
Goh, who is also a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) expressed this during a media interview while attending the said event at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here, on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The said event was graced by Sabah Head of State, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, and his spouse, Toh Puan Sri Norlidah R.M. Jasni, with special guests including the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and his wife, Datin Seri Panglima Hjh Juliah Salag, the Consul General of China in Kota Kinabalu, Huang Shifang, Deputy Chief Ministers, Members of Parliaments and state legislative representatives, members of the State Cabinet, leaders of the Chinese community and various ethnic groups, and the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment of Sabah and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Datuk Christina Liew, among many others.
Goh observed that the Chinese New Year Open House held on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year could be considered the largest Chinese New Year gathering in the state, with overwhelming participation from the entire population.
“We in the FCAS feel honored to have been invited to assist in the hosting of this grand event, as it shows the state government’s recognition of FCAS’s leadership position within the Chinese community and organizations. We also welcome and support the state government’s effort to promote racial unity and harmony through such cultural programmes,” he said.
He continued that all the traditional Chinese cultural programs were carefully planned and coordinated by the FCAS, with full cooperation from various Chinese organizations, schools, and others in the state.
“Everyone united to present a spectacular show of singing, dancing, martial arts, face-changing, Chinese orchestra performances, and a grandiose dragon and lion dance performance.
“There were also about 400 participants from Sabah’s minority ethnic groups participating in this grand event, and they exchanged New Year greetings in their traditional attire with the Chinese community and state leadership. It fully demonstrated the moderate, harmonious, and peaceful atmosphere of the Lunar New Year,” he highlighted.
He was especially glad to note that the Head of State, Chief Minister, and members of the State Cabinet stayed for at least two and a half hours, extending lunar New Year greetings to the Chinese community, participating in the prosperity toss (Yee Sang), and watching the various cultural performances, leaving them with a deep and positive impression of the event.-pr/BNN
