Different anniversary year is fine for Masidi

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KOTA KINABALU: It does not hurt to have different anniversary year when celebrating Merdeka Day as long as the feelings of all are taken into consideration.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, who stated this, stressed that Sabah and Sarawak can celebrate their 52nd Merdeka Day celebration next year while Peninsular Malaysia can celebrate their 58th Anniversary.

“A lot of people are not happy with the number ’57th’ (in the Hari Merdeka celebration this year). (Even) I have suggested the figure 57/51 (Hari Merdeka). Why don’t we just say ‘Hari Merdeka 2015 or whatever without emphasizing on the anniversary year? For Sabah and Sarawak, they can celebrate the 52nd next year and for West Malaysia, they can celebrate the 58th next year. While the number is not important, it does give us the ownership for the Hari Merdeka,” he said.

Masidi is also sure that people will continue to mention the anniversary year each time Hari Merdeka is celebrated.

What is imperative, he said, is to make the people of Sabah and Sarawak feel a sense of belonging to the Federation.

“We have to feel proud and promote the feeling of togetherness each time we celebrate the Hari Merdeka,” he said.

Masidi added he believes the issue on the anniversary year will eventually be resolved.

“Over time, I am sure we will sort it out. But meanwhile, I think we need to consider the feelings of other people. It doesn’t hurt to have different anniversary year,” he opined.

Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek recently disclosed that the Independence Day celebration is likely to be held without mentioning the number of anniversaries starting from next year.

He said the suggestion had already been submitted to the cabinet aimed at preventing the people in Sabah and Sarawak from feeling isolated if the number of independence anniversaries was stated.