Tun Juhar (8th left) and Toh Puan Norlidah (7th right) together with Hajiji (6th left), Goh (6th left) and other VIPs on stage to wish the Chinese community a Happy Chinese New Year.
KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) was convinced that with a stable political environment, Sabah will achieve speedy economic recovery.
Its President Tan Sri T C Goh said this while welcoming and supporting the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor’s statement that the State Government and the people would continue to unite and focus on fulfilling the state’s development agenda.
He said the Chief Minister’s determination to focus on expediting the recovery of Sabah’s economy should be fully supported by the people of Sabah of all races, in order to create a better future for the state and its people.
Goh, who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) was responding to the speech made by the Chief Minister at the 2023 Lunar New Year Gathering jointly organised by the State Government and FCAS here recently.
Goh said FCAS shared the same aspiration of the Chief Minister that there will be lasting peace and harmony for Sabah and its people.
In a statement issued today, Goh who is also a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) also fully supported the Chief Minister’s statement that the state will ensure everyone, regardless of races or religions, is able to celebrate his or her respective festival, citing that celebrations such as Chinese New Year, Christmas and Hari Raya Aidilfitri should be used as a platform to further strengthen relations and unity.
Goh stressed that the Government and the people of Sabah must continue to safeguard Sabah’s long-established harmonious society, especially from being ‘contaminated’ or infringed upon by race and religious extremists.
He assured that FCAS together with the Chinese community of Sabah will always remain steadfast in defending all aspects which preserve and promote a harmonious multiracial society in Sabah.
He also supported the Chief Minister for assuring that equitable development for all citizens will continue to be practised, including the provisions for vernacular schools and missionaries as well as non-Muslim religious bodies in Sabah.
He noted that for this purpose, the State Government had allocated a total of RM54.05mil in this year’s State Budget, an increase of RM7.05 million compared to last year’s allocation. He said this also showed the State Government’s flexibility and practicality in making adjustments based on necessity.
He acknowledged that as the Covid-19 pandemic is gradually under better control and most sectors in Sabah had resumed operations, some of these sectors might require some forms of assistance from the State Government after this.
Meanwhile, on behalf of FCAS, Goh also thanked the State Government for providing funding for organising the Chinese New Year gathering.
He also thanked the Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and his consort Toh Puan Norlidah RM Jasni, the Chinese Consul-General in Kota Kinabalu, Dr Huang Shifang and the various Sabah ministers and assistant ministers, Members of Parliament, state assemblymen, leaders of various political parties, government department and agencies heads and members of the Chinese community for their attendance and support, as well as the organising committee for their hard work in making the event a successful one.
