SMOOTH PREPARATIONS: Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir briefing the Chief Minster Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman on the progress of the preparation for the 50th Malaysia Day celebration during his visit to the celebration site at Prince Phillip Park in Tanjung Aru yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman yesterday expressed satisfaction with the preparations to celebrate Sabah’s 50th anniversary within Malaysia on Sept 16 at Prince Philip Park in Tanjung Aru.
“But I have requested them to enhance and ensure that everything would go smoothly, without any hitches,” he told reporters after attending a briefing by the organisers at the park yesterday.
Musa said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had been invited to the event.
He said the prime minister was also expected to launch the Tanjung Aru Eco Development project to be implemented near the celebration site.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister stressed that Sept 16 was a significant occasion for Sabah as it was the day that the state achieved independence through the formation of the Malaysian federation and enabled its people of diverse ethnicity and religion to live in peace and harmony.
“Therefore we urge the people throughout Sabah to join the celebrations and express their nationalism and loyalty to the country, while making the occasion a jubilant one,” he said.
As part of the celebration, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment together with its agencies, Sabah State Museum, Sabah Tourism Board and Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn. Bhd. have taken the initiative of setting up five traditional houses, namely the Lansaran of Tenom, Rungus Longhouse of Kudat, Bajau House from Kota Belud, Ranau House and Brunei House to showcase the unique cultures and traditions of Sabah’s ethnic groups.
These traditional houses will be built by the respective ethnic groups and is set to be completed by the first week of September.
These houses will be exhibited during the Malaysia Day celebration accompanied by live traditional and cultural performances.
During the event, traditional delicacies will be served at each house for public sampling. Visitors can also purchase traditional food and beverages as well as local handicraft.
More information on the event can be obtained from Zachary Mobijohn, Event Manager of Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn. Bhd. at +6088-232121, email at [email protected], or visit the website www.sabahtourism.com.