KOTA KINABALU: The people must strive to ensure that the country’s independence is maintained and work hard to keep the nation’s unity, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin.
Officiating at the state-level ‘Kembara Merdeka Jalur Gemilang’ programme at Putatan town yesterday, Yahya said that trivial matters should not be blown up and seeds of discord in the community must be disposed of immediately.
Citing an example, the Agriculture and Food Industry Minister said, “The social media should not be used to publish negative as well as sensitive things as they could spark off dangerous sentiments.
“Just look at the countries that are now in turmoil, their independence which they have enjoyed for so long is now meaningless.
“They are now in a situation which is worse than before they attained their independence,” he opined.
According to the Petagas assemblyman, it is reported daily by the mass media the problems and the situation in countries like Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan which are in turmoil.
“Every day we see and hear in the mass media about the bombings, shootings, mobs and fatalities in these countries.
“This is the kind of situation that will destroy and stunt a country’s development.
“Its people are poor even though the country is rich in natural resources,” he pointed out.
Yahya was of the opinion that when citizens are not united, it makes it easier for opportunists to take advantage of the situation and make it worse.
Therefore, the citizens of a country that has attained independence must always be vigilant and observant of what is happening in other countries so that they are reminded of just how priceless independence is and that there is replacement for it, he stressed.
“So what is our role and responsibility towards our beloved country? It is to ensure that our independence is always maintained so that we do not become like those countries in turmoil,” he stressed.