CM: Day M’sia formed must be remembered

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the Malaysia Day celebration should be maintained as among ways to remember and appreciate the formation of the Federation of Malaysia.

“The State Government and all Sabahans hope that the name Malaysia Day celebration like what we are celebrating tonight be maintained to commemorate the formation of our beloved sovereign country,” he said.

He said the formation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963 was a historic moment that brought significant meaning to the people of Malaysia, especially in Sabah.

“It is most significant and must be remembered and appreciated always by us and the future generations because on this auspicious date Sabah and Sarawak successfully formed the Federation of Malaysia together with Malaya,” he said at the Malaysia Day celebration in conjunction with 51st National Day at Padang Merdeka here.

Towards this end, he called on the multi-racial and ethnic people in Sabah to further strengthen the unity spirit and harmony among themselves.

“I believe that strong unity of the Sabah people will contribute further and be more meaningful to the overall unity of the nation,” he said.

Musa said the fact that the formation of Malaysia had brought about benefit to the people in the country through stable politics, social prosperity and economic progress.

The continuous good relations between the State and Federal governments is not only translated through the distribution of big allocations but also as the catalyst to stimulate more effective development to the whole State, he said.

In this context, the State Government also emphasised on the holistic approach in the planning and implementation of development agenda for the people’s prosperity.

According to Musa, Sabah is the best model in terms of unity, religious tolerance and harmony among the various ethnic in the country.

“What is interesting is that we never make race, ethnicity and religion separate us. Instead, we respect each other and muster this ethnic diversity as the main thrust of our strength and success in line with the concept of unity in diversity,” he said.