07Dec

STB’s first Christmas celebration

Kota Kinabalu: Gaya Street was transformed into a fairyland of lights and carols Tuesday for Sabah Tourism Board's (STB) first Christmas celebration.Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Datuk Christina Liew, when launching the event, said the Christmas tree placed in front of the historic century-old STB office was made out of daily reusable items including plastic cups, cake covers, ice cream sticks, clothes pegs and others. "In all of our initiatives and events this year, we have been emphasising on cleanliness and no single-use plastic, in our efforts to ensure a clean and unpolluted Sabah," she said. Children who were present were overjoyed when Liew and her Ministry staff along with STB started distributing presents to children from Pediatrics Ward of the Sabah Hospital for Women and Children in Likas.She commended STB for attracting a large number of locals and tourists for the festive celebration. "I am pleased to see a huge crowed supporting this huge event and I hope this will be a tradition where we, regardless of backgrounds and ethnicities, come together to mark the year-end holiday season here in Kota Kinabalu," she said. Many stalls were set up offering local products besides food and drink stalls as well food trucks. - Locksley Ng Source : Daily Express
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27Dec

Yahya: Celebrating Christmas together a sign of unity

KOTA KINABALU: Celebrating Christmas together irrespective of religion, faith and culture is a sign of unity among Malaysians, says Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin. Yahya, who is also Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, said it was a practice for the multiracial people in Sabah and Malaysia to celebrate festivals together. He said this when representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman at Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS)’s Christmas open house jointly hosted by party president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan and his deputy Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili at KDCA here on Sunday. “Like the Christmas open house today, others and I also attended the event to celebrate Christmas with our Christian friends, even though we are not Christians. “This is a sign of unity among the people of Malaysia, irrespective of religion, faith and culture,” said Yahya. Meanwhile, Maximus said events such as open house could instill the spirit of moderation in the people. Although Malaysians comprised those of many faiths and backgrounds, he said the people were always united and able to work together. On Pairin’s absence, Maximus explained that his president was supposed to return from leave on Saturday. “However, he had to postpone his leave due to the prime minister’s visit to Tawau last week. “Hence, he was unable to come back from leave due to his commitment to his children and grandchildren. But we are all here,” he said. Also present at the open house were MIC Sabah president Datuk V Jothi, PBS deputy president Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai and wife Datin Vicky Yee, secretary general Datuk Johnny Mositun, supreme council members Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Chin Tek Ming, as well as Datuk Gerald Goh and Datuk Paul Kong from MCA.   Source : The Borneo Post
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27Dec

Uphold universal values: Masidi

Ranau: State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun urged the people here to adopt universal values inherent in all religions in order to ensure peace and harmony to persist. "In the religion itself we have universal values that we all share. For instance, in Islam we must be a good head of the family. I think other religions, including Christianity also teaches that. "This is what is called the universal values that we all share no matter what our religious affiliations. If you are a Muslim, be a good Muslim, if we are a Christian, be a good Christian people and so on. "Never follow the example of people in other places who kill others in the name of religion. Be thankful because we are more civilised than them. Be a better people than those in other places who wait for the opportune moment to fight with others," he said. He said that hostile attitude is not the universal values that should be emulated as this is contrary to all the values in any religion in the world. Masidi, who is also Assemblyman for Karanaan, said this when opening the Ranau Parliamentary Christmas Day Celebration 2016 held at the Ranau Umno office compound, Thursday. Meanwhile, he also praised the spirit of unity among the people here area because although they are from different religions, they can live in harmony regardless of their differences. "Here we do not see diversity in religious affiliations as a problem, instead, this became an aspect of our unity. We are proud to be able to see the difference among us as an excuse for us to work together and be united. "Even within our Umno in Ranau, 30 percent of our members are those who are Christians and many are Christian leaders in their churches. "As I always say, religion belongs to God and party belongs to human. We can not equate the party with religion. Because political parties are our creation and when we die, the party is still there," he explained. He urged members of the party and member of other Barisan Nasional (BN) components to attend any Christmas celebration invitations from any party to uphold social harmony in this area. Also present at the ceremony, Ranau MP Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin, District Officer, Hj Faimin Kamin, Karanaan Kapitan, Datuk Jimmy Tham, Wanita Umno Chief, Datuk Amisah Yasin, Head of Community Development Paginatan, Georgina George Leong and others.   Source : Daily Express
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