Time For Sabahans To Rejoice And Re-Bond As One Big Family

By Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan

State Reform Party

STAR Sabah wishes all Malaysians a very prosperous and happy Chinese New Year and hope that the Year of the Dragon 2012 will bring more joy, better health and wealth, peace and harmony to everyone. We also wish all Sabahans to take the festive occasion to re-establish and enhance our bonds as one big family which has always been the melting pot of multi-racial people of more than 41 ethnic groupings” wished Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chairman in his Chinese New Message in conjunction with the lunar new year.

I fervently hope that, as ordinary Malaysians on the ground, we are not carried away by our nation’s present leaders and the Government’s machinery and apparatus which have caused the nation’s worst period of racial discord and racial disharmony that is spreading even to Sabah.

For the future of our children and the nation, we must reject such racial politicking and remain united and maintain harmony in our diverse race and religion.

This Chinese New Year is a good occasion and starting point for all of us to restore the cracks in our national’s relationships caused by our nation’s recent events.

On a more sombre note, while we partake together on this joyous occasion and thank our lucky stars, let us be reminded of our less fortunate brothers and sisters and children in our beloved State.

It must be said that part of the blame of Sabah’s woes, be they be land, illegal immigrants, phantom voters, poverty or others, can be attributed to the current State leaders who seem to have lost the plot that they above everyone else in Sabah or Malaysia must look after the rights and interests of Sabah and Sabahans and not bow or cower to the political powers in Semenanjung or Putrajaya.

Festive seasons and sporting events show that all is not lost and there are plentiful of good and benevolent people and plentiful of right thinking people.

If we are united in fighting for the rights of the oppressed and for the people of Sabah in particular and of Malaysia generally, there is hope for our country.

In particular, I urge all true Sabahans to stand up and be counted and do your bit for the sake of our state rights, autonomy, upliftment of the people and genuine development of the State and its abundant resources and for the sake of our future generations.

Once again may I wish everyone all Malaysians a VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS CHINESE NEW YEAR and wish that the YEAR OF THE DRAGON will bring peace, prosperity and racial harmony to all Malaysians and that 2012 will see the beginning of change in Malaysia and particularly in Sabah for a new and better Government and for better things to come for all Malaysians.