KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians of all races, the leaders included, must continue to cherish and hold firm to the true spirit of the nation’s formation, besides safeguarding its long-established racial harmony and mutual respect, said Tan Sri T.C Goh, President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong).
He especially opined that, the harmonious coexistence of the people of different races, religious and cultural background in Sabah and Sarawak, which are the two key components in the Federation of Malaysia, all these years, should be emulated by all Malaysians.
He was convinced that, a vast majority of moderate, peace-loving Malaysians would continue to reject and even take to task those irresponsible individuals and extremists who attempted to use race and religion or related issues to disrupt our long-established racial harmony and unity.
He underscored that, racial and cultural diversity has always been and will continue to remain the foundation of Malaysia and, besides being the unique feature and the main thrust for its growth, perpetually.
He empathically expressed this in his message issued today, in conjunction with the Malaysia Day celebrations.
He recognized that, the adoption of the slogan of ‘Malaysia Prihatin’ as the theme for Malaysia Day celebrations, for two consecutive years (last year and this year), signifies that not only the people must care for the nation, but the people and businesses too need to be taken care of, and this includes the much cherished harmony and unity of the people.
He continued that Malaysia Day has been celebrated annually on September 16 since 2009, to commemorate the formation of Malaysia; it is a date equally important and meaningful as the Merdeka Day which falls on 31 August of every year.
Goh who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) further noted that, this year, it was Sabah’s turn to host the Malaysia Day celebration, which will be held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC). This was after Sarawak played host for the last two consecutive years, i.e. last year, in Sibu, and in Kuching, in 2019.
He recalled that, Malaya gained its independence 64 years ago on 31 August, 1957 hence, the Merdeka Day celebration; while Sarawak and Sabah gained their independence separately on 22 July, 1963 and on 31 August 1963; the founding leaders of Sabah and Sarawak later joined the Federation of Malaya and Singapore to sign the Malaysia Agreement on 16 September, 1963 to form the Federation of Malaysia, and it has been 58 years since then. Singapore later separated from Malaysia, on 9 August, 1965 to become an independent and sovereign state.
“Although east and west Malaysia are separated by the ocean, for the last 60 years, we Malaysians of all races have held firm to the ‘Malaysian Family’ concept to coexist with each other peacefully and harmoniously, and together we shall continue to preserve and promote such a great spirit, and to strive for greater growth and prosperity for our beloved nation,” he concluded.-pr/BNN
