Maximus (second left) exchanging festive greetings with Chee, the oldest woman in Kota Marudu at 90.
KOTA MARUDU: Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili spent the day greeting and wishing retailers and shoppers a happy Chinese New Year during a walkabout held at Pekan Baru Kota Marudu here yesterday.
He was accompanied by Assistant Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Anita Baranting who is also Tandek assemblyman, Parti Bersatu Sabah Tandek division leaders and members, Barisan Naisonal component party leaders and members, District Officer Sualim Sanan and several other District Councillors.
Maximus, who is Kota Marudu MP and Parti Bersatu Sabah deputy president, said the festive season was a time to appreciate and celebrate the cultural diversity of the various races in Malaysia by joining the Chinese community in Malaysia in celebrating the Lunar Year festival.
“The Lunar Year festival is a good time to reflect on the unity and harmony that have bound Malaysians as a nation despite our diverse racial and cultural background. This is our success as a nation that we must always celebrate and preserve,” he added.
In conjunction with the Lunar New Year or the Year of the Monkey which will be celebrated on Monday and Tuesday (Febuary 8-9), Maximus and his entourage distributed greeting cards and his personal Chinese New Year calendar to the local folks in the town area.
He also took the opportunity to talk with his constituents whom he met, about the problems they were facing.
“From issues pertaining to public amenities to the people’s welfare, all feedback received will be taken into consideration to refine our existing development plans for a better Kota Marudu,” he said.
Among the Kota Marudu folks he met was Chee Len Kyau, who at 90, is the oldest woman in Kota Marudu. Chee, was pleasantly surprised to meet the MP at the market where she was shopping for vegetables.
Maximus gave her a hug and wished her “Gong Xi Fa Chai” and good health, while the elderly woman wished him a prosperous New Year.