Datuk Lee Kim Shin
MIRI: Sarawak has the strength, tenacity and resilience to take on a challenging Year of the Boar and be successful and prosperous.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin said the state can sail confidently through the year ahead as this zodiac animal of the lunar calendar is a symbol of wealth and signs of good fortune in Chinese culture.
“Sarawak is unique and it’s bearded boar also epitomises strength, toughness and resilience which are needed as some Feng Shui masters had predicted a challenging year but also a year of good fortune,” he said.
Lee said this in his Chinese New Year message, wishing Sarawakians a year full of joy , friendship and love, and auspicious for everyone where they will find good fortune, success and happiness.
He stressed that the Chinese New Year celebration in Sarawak is one of the major cultural festivities, particularly through the Open House where all communities join in and celebrate the festival and share the happiness.
The Open House is also practised during other festivals such as Gawai Dayak, Hari Raya Puasa, Christmas and Deepavali as it acts an excellent platform to enhance relationship, foster good will and unity.
Commenting on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s approval of RM300 subsidy for tertiary education students from Sarawak studying in Peninsular Malaysia, Labuan and Sabah, Lee said the move was to encourage them to return home to be with their parents, families, relatives and friends during the festive season.
This subsidy is to lighten the financial burden and provide opportunity for this target group to be able to return home at least twice a year to their loved ones while strengthening family institution.
“It would be a heavy burden for parents if they have more than one child studying outside Sarawak coming back for the Chinese New Year festive season,” he said.
Lee pointed out that Sarawak is a beautiful state of people who cherish filial piety, peace, harmony and stability that has prevailed all these years which enable us to enjoy various festive occasions happily together.
“We must always safeguard Sarawak from any negative or extremist influences from outside the state and we are very fortunate to have a very experienced, caring and visionary Chief Minister who is able to lead Sarawak to a brighter future for us,” he said.
He called on all Sarawakians to be united and give the chief minister their full support to enable him to fight for the state rights and privileges as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and other documents such as the Cobbold Commission Report and Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report.