KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman yesterday applauded Rotarians for their work in meeting the needs of the world through significant areas of work.
Rotarians, at global level, have made significant contributions towards the eradication of polio, the promotion of peace and the creation of sustainable communities, he said at the 16th installation dinner of the Rotary Club of Luyang, here last night.
“I understand that the focus of Rotary in the immediate future lies in diverse project themes that range from peace and conflict resolution to disease prevention and treatment, and water and sanitation.
Other items on your list include maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and economic and community development.
“Speaking as a public servant, I see the relevance and importance of Rotary’s areas of focus. These are issues facing many communities, especially the poor in developing countries. And while Sabah has made tremendous economic progress over the years, some of these issues still afflict some of our communities in the more remote areas,” Musa said.
He assured the Rotarians that the State Government in cooperation with the Federal Government, is working hard to improve the socio-economic status of remote communities through timely and relevant programmes.
As a government that cares, “we are committed in bridging gaps between regions, and in overcoming hardships faced by the people.
“No one must be left out as reflected in our development philosophy of inclusiveness under the 1Malaysia banner,” he stressed.
According to Musa, currently, pertinent issues faced by the rakyat are being addressed via the Federal-led Government Transformation Programme and other initiatives.
Along with the State Government programmes, areas of focus include poverty eradication, education, health and rural basic infrastructure, he said pointing out that the successful implementation of these initiatives will bring about an improved quality of life for all Sabahans, regardless of where they live in the state.
“Having said this, there will always be people who remain less fortunate, and who despite our best efforts, somehow get left behind for a variety of reasons. People also face temporal hardships from time to time due to circumstances beyond their control.
“I believe that Rotary can play an important role in providing relief to those in need. Your services complement the government’s efforts in helping the poor, as temporary relief is often required before more lasting solutions can be found,” Musa stressed.
He was of the opinion that the theme for Rotary this year Peace Through Service is an apt and timely theme, as conflicts and wars displace people around the world.
“Death, hunger, disease and loss of homes normally follow wars, and as such, prevention or resolution is prerequisite for a strife-free world. By promoting peace and conflict resolution, communities can be spared the ills that follow wars.
“I am a big supporter of the Rotary movement and the work of Rotarians in Sabah and around the world.
“It is my hope that more people will be inspired by the spirit of Rotary and embrace volunteerism and community service for the good of the state and country.
“I wish the Rotary Club of Luyang all the best, and that president Halim Egoh and his board of directors have a fruitful year. I am confident that the club will grow from strength to strength, and help spread the Rotary spirit to more people,” he said.