KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman has called on the people to not only strengthen their ties among Muslims, but with Malaysians from all walks of life through the practice of exchanging greetings at open houses.
Sabah has prospered along with the rest of Malaysia and achieved progress in many fields, leading to higher quality of life for its people, Musa said.
“Our determination to strive for excellence and a population made up of diverse backgrounds are some factors that have led to Malaysia’s growth.
“Through our combined knowledge and experience, we will achieve more in the future. We must strengthen unity, work with each another and respect one another even when differences in opinions emerge,” the Chief Minister said in his message in conjunction with this year’s Hari Raya celebration.
Musa, who is also Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman, lamented that some irresponsible quarters had set out to destroy what we have built, saying things that are hurtful to fellow Malaysians.
In expressing or discussing opinions, he advised the people to be mindful of the fact that they are living in a multi-racial country and that the harmony they have enjoyed for so long should never be compromised.
“Unity is one of the foundations of the stability we have today and I call on us all to always respect and support each other.
“We are indeed all Malaysians and I hope we will all continue to reflect on this and subscribe to 1Malaysia, the brainchild of our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, who sincerely wants to bring this country to greater heights,” he said.
According to Musa, both the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and Government Transformation Programme (GTP) have been showing results and together with the 10th Malaysia Plan, the government remains committed to reaching its projected goals within the respective time frames given for each initiative.
The Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) and the State Development Agenda, or Halatuju, are also on track to achieve their respective targets, he added.
In addition, Musa said the Federal Government has embarked on other initiatives under the 1Malaysia banner in order to address a range of issues from affordable housing to better healthcare and to address the prices of daily consumer items.
He pointed out that the Annual Salary Increment (KGT) had been carried out twice this year, with the most recent in July, by both the Federal and State governments.
“I am confident that the Federal Government will come up with more initiatives that will positively impact the people in the near future. The Barisan Nasional government is one that truly cares for the people,” Musa said.
With the general election fever now over, he said the time has come to move on and he called on all political parties to close ranks, work together and to cut down on politicking which wastes time and energy.
Musa also pointed out that Sabah has many positive traits that the people can leverage on.
“Our finances are well managed, our economy is growing and we also pay focus on environmental initiatives as we acknowledge that our biodiversity cannot and must not be taken for granted.
“For Sabah to keep progressing within a sustainably managed economy, we cannot be complacent. We must all join hands,” he said, adding that while rejoicing during this celebration, we must also remember the less fortunate.
Musa also thanked the Armed Forces, police and other security agencies for their services in safeguarding the State and reminded the people to put the unfortunate intrusion earlier this year in Lahad Datu behind them.
“I am confident that we will not see a repeat. Innocent lives were lost in the line of duty and we are forever indebted to those who were sacrificed during the incident,” he added.