KOTA KINABALU: Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) pledges to give its full support and assistance to the setting up of a consul-general office in Kota Kinabalu.
“This long-overdue announcement is indeed a good news for Sabah and its people, the Chinese community in particular. We, in FCAS, shall give our full support and whatever assistance that we could, to ensure its speedy and smooth establishment,” said its president Datuk TC Goh.
He was responding to the announcement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Friday, that China would open a consul-general office in Kota Kinabalu and Penang while Malaysia would open one in Naning to strengthen bilateral ties.
Najib said the decision was achieved during his meeting with visiting President Xi Jinping on Friday.
Goh said he was convinced that the move, if materialized, would not only further strengthen the existing bilateral ties between the two nations, but also bring about mutual benefits to the people of Sabah and China in various aspects, economy and trade, in particular.
“It would especially boost the state tourism industry besides saving time and money for the people of Sabah to apply for visa to visit China, whether for business or for pleasure.
“It would also boost the confidence of Chinese tourists visiting Sabah who are visibly on the rise, since the last few years.
“Besides, it would also better position and elevate the status of Kota Kinabalu City, as a ‘strategic partner’ for China in the region,” he said.
Presently, besides Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Kota Kinabalu is the other city in Malaysia which provides direct flights to such major cities like Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzheng.
“Sabah as a whole, and Kota Kinabalu City in particular, would benefit from it. It’s a great blessing for the people of Sabah. We, in FCAS, shall strive to play our role as the bridge between the Government of Malaysia and its Chinese counterpart,” he reiterated.