Taib advises Sarawakians to look beyond differences among each other to embrace harmony.
KUCHING: The people are urged to embrace the coming Chinese New Year by adopting an attitude of openness towards one another.
In his Chinese New Year message, Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the people should always look into fostering better ties with each other, being open and able to embrace change.
“The change is regardless of politics, economy and human capital development. We must be ready for any possibility and at the same time ready to accept challenges and be more mature and independent,” he advised.
At the same time, Taib urged everyone to celebrate the coming Chinese New Year by visiting each other, to renew ties and relationship and at the same time to enjoy the festival together.
“The Year of the Rooster is where we should be more open to others, without being prejudice to other races as it has always been a tradition for the people of Sarawak to be open to others, to understand each other and to value each other’s differences.
“I would like to congratulate the Chinese community in Malaysia for always showing good attitude not just to their race but others as well, and it is highly vital for everyone to be able to understand and live in harmony, regardless whether you are Malays, Ibans, Bidayuhs or Chinese,” he added.
In the true Malaysian spirit, he said Sarawakians must be able to look beyond differences and to find mutual understanding to achieve harmony because with harmony comes unity.
“We had seen history when the Chinese, Malays, Ibans and Indians who had less communication before had loose ties but now work together in this era to develop the state. It is a healthy process and as we went along will we saw the creation of Bangsa Malaysia,” he said.
“I would like to wish the Chinese community a happy Chinese New Year, and may all the identity and positive attitude that we hope to be a trait of Malaysia will continue with the next generation,” he added.