Christmas
A Sabah Christmas wonderland
Joyous nights of 1Malaysia in brightly lit Kota Kinabalu
There isn’t any snow. Neither do sleigh bells ring. But it’s winter December wonderland just the same. And, of course, it’s the season to be jolly. In some ways, the yearly 3-day Christmas celebration launched on December 15 evening by Dr Yee Moh Chai, minister of resource development and information technology, looks similar to Germany’s Weihnachtmarkt (Christmas market).
The Gaya street Christmas fair has all the gaiety of yuletide: Carol singing, Christmas trees (15 of them!), fireworks, 174 stalls selling all kinds of food and merchandise, and dogs dressed up like santa clauses!
“We received overwhelming response from the public,” said Joannes Solidau, deputy director-general of operations of Kota Kinabalu City Hall. “Last year we had 120 stalls. But this year, we had a lot of people who wanted to cash in on the celebration.”
The fair is organised by city hall and the Sabah Council of Churches. Many of the stalls are run by Christians who donate part of their income to their churches.
Mr Solidau said mayor Iliyas Ibrahim wanted this year’s celebration to be “brighter and more joyful. So, we put up many more brightly lit Christmas trees at every corner of Lintasan Deasoka and colourful lights all along Gaya street.”
Dr Yee said Christmas was not just a religious celebration. “It is to be shared by all through the 1Malaysia concept of promoting unity, harmony and tolerance among the people,” he said.
He hoped that the celebration would drive home the Christmas message of peace and goodwill to all. “We have been living in peace and harmony for many years. Let’s continue to do this for our own good and for generations to come,” Dr Yee said. – Insight Sabah
– with reporting by Jacqueline Gom and Henry Matakim
Posted on 16-12-2009 04:30 pm
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We are making Sabah not just a gateway for trade, investment and tourism but a modern, vibrant, prosperous and harmonious place to live.
Prime Minister Najib Razak speaking at the open day of the Sabah Development Corridor in Kota Kinabalu on February 16.