Tun Musa (sixth left) and Toh Puan Faridah (fifth left) are joined by Goh (third right) and other state leaders and VIP guests on stage to jointly perform the auspicious “lou sang” (prosperity toss).
KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) President Tan Sri T C Goh hoped that like the Federal Unity Government, the Sabah State Government, which is now in its final year of the current term, would continue to be the most stable and united administration compared to previous state elections.
He acknowledged that the Federal Unity Government formed after the 2022 general election is the most stable and united administration since the change of Federal Government in 2018.
He emphasised that this expectation and development would better align with the overall aspirations of both Malaysians nationwide and the people of Sabah.
He said this at the grand Chinese New Year celebration banquet for the Year of the Snake 2025, hosted by the FCAS at the Hakka Hall here last night. The event made history with the attendance of the newly-appointed 11th Sabah Head of State Tun Musa Aman and his wife, Toh Puan Faridah Tussin, as the guests of honor.
Other distinguished guests included Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, who represented the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor, along with his (Dr Joachim’s) wife Datin Seri Linda Ewit, Chinese Consul General in Kota Kinabalu Dr Huang Shifang and several State Cabinet members including Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe and Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim. Assistant ministers, heads of various departments and agencies, as well as Chinese community leaders, were also present.
Goh stressed that for Sabah’s development, the most crucial factor is a stable and united government, a sentiment shared by people of all ethnic backgrounds.
He believes that the people of Sabah generally agree that the current State Government should serve its full term until the end of this year.
He noted that the State Government, led by Hajiji, was formed after the 2020 State Election in accordance with the Constitution and the people’s mandate. Following the 2022 General Election, it fully aligned with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Federal Unity Government, forming the “Sabah Unity Government,” which has remained stable ever since.
He emphasised that the people fully support stability and unity, as these factors enable Sabah’s economy to grow steadily. This stability should continue as the state progresses toward the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 1.0 development plan’s initiative and eventually its next phase, SMJ 2.0.
On another note, Goh also congratulated Tun Musa Aman on his official appointment as the 11th Head of State of Sabah in January this year and pledged loyalty to him.
He expressed confidence that with Musa’s extensive political and leadership experience, coupled with the dedicated governance of Hajiji and his administration, Sabah would continue to advance rapidly towards the vision of Sabah Maju Jaya benefiting people of all ethnicities.
Reflecting on the past year, Goh noted that Sabah’s development has been moving in the right direction, with an increase in foreign investment, a surge in domestic and international tourist arrivals and progress in infrastructure projects driven by both the Federal and State Governments, all of which have benefited the people.
He also hoped that with Federal assistance, the ongoing Pan Borneo Highway project would be completed soon, the plans to upgrade the Kota Kinabalu and Tawau airports would be implemented swiftly, and that the State Government would continue working towards ensuring stable electricity and water supplies to meet the demands of industries, businesses and the general public.
