KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) president Datuk Seri Panglima Dr T.C. Goh has expressed his confidence in the newly-appointed Mayor of Kota Kinabalu, Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, in further improving the state capital as a developed and beautiful city.
Goh reiterated that the federation welcomed Yeo as the new mayor, as well as appreciated the State Government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman to appoint the first Chinese mayor since Kota Kinabalu was elevated to city status.
Haivng said that, Goh said the federation does not overemphasize on race in the mayoral appointment.
“We look forward to a good mayor who can perform and be a mayor for all.
“With his experience and personality, I am very confident he (Yeo) will deliver what the government wants and assist Kota Kinabalu to improve further as a developed and beautiful city.”
Goh said this when asked about his expectations for Yeo after presenting ang pows and hampers to 500 senior citizens in a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme by Everise Ventures Sdn Bhd at Lido Square here yesterday.
Asked if Yeo should introduce road signs in Mandarin to attract Chinese tourists, Goh believed that this matter was not so important.
“Yeo has more important things to do.”
He said the government had been putting effort to promote tourism, particularly tourists from mainland China.
“I do not see any problem (absence of road signs in Mandarin).
“We have the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah Tourism Baord and everyone is promoting (tourism). Even the announcement in airport has included the Chinese language.”
On another matter, Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Jimmy Wong claimed that Musa was insincere in saying that the State Government had pledged to continue supporting the cultural activities of the Tionghua community every year regardless whether the activities were held in the Barisan Nasional (BN) or opposition area during the Chinese New Year Carnival at Lintasan Deasoka, as the opposition MP and assemblymen were not invited to the event.
The Chinese New Year Carnival, jointly organized by FCAS and City Hall, was held from January 29 to 31 here.
In response to that, Goh said FCAS, as co-organizer of the carnival, welcomed and invited all leaders from both the political divide.
He said the federation had invited opposition leaders to previous events but most of the time, they did not respond.
“When there was no response, we ceased to invite them.”
However, Goh pointed out that the Chinese New Year carnival was a public event and the federation had urged the people, leaders and associations to attend and support the activity in newspapers.
“As an elected representative, especially for Kota Kinabalu, if you think this event is worth attending, you will attend, even if we have forgotten to invite you.
“We have said in newspapers that everybody is invited, everybody is welcome to attend because the carnival is open to everybody.”