KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) has commended the state government for providing annual grants in aid of non Muslim religious organizations, Chinese independent schools and Chinese primary schools in the state, all these years.
Its President Tan Sri T.C Goh hoped the state government will continue with such a noble tradition, and also to consider increasing such allocations, in accordance to their actual needs.
Goh who is also President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) expressed this when speaking at the annual Malaysia Day mass prayer organized by the Ji Her Charity and Moral Uplifting Society (JHCMUS), on Thursday. Also in attendance were Goh’s spouse, Paun Sri Joanne Ho, JHCMUS’s President *Tai Yong Keong,* Jessica Basat, deputy director of Department of National Unity and Integration, Sabah branch, and FCAS vice presidents, Kapitan Fung Chun Fatt and Ng Young Wah, among others.
Goh noted that, all these years, the state government under the previous chief ministers and the current chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor, has been very supportive of the activities and programmes organized by the Chinese community and various religious organizations. This was well reflected in the allocation of state grants to the Chinese organizations and non Muslim religious bodies, annually. The total amount has been increased from RM 38 mil to RM 47 mil since Hajiji became chief minister.
“We hope the state government will continue with such a noble tradition, and also consider increasing such allocations, in accordance with their actual needs,” he said.
He was also glad to note that, every year the state government would also allocate funding to support the mass prayer organized by the Sabah Cultural Board, in conjunction with the Malaysia Day celebrations. The said programme which is in its third year, this year, was aimed chiefly to promote religious harmony among the people of different faiths and races, in line with the “Malaysian Family” spirit.
He also emphasized that it is important for Malaysians of various races to continue to preserve and promote mutual respect and understanding, in order to achieve greater unity and harmony, which is crucial towards nation building, stability and growth.
Besides this, he also opined that the Chinese community should strive to achieve greater unity, especially citing its steadily decreasing population, which is currently estimated at 23% of the total population of 32.7 mil. He however believed the actual figure could be much lower as quite a number of them had migrated to other countries.pr/BNN
