Culture
Roaring start to Sabah-China ties
Sabah shows the way to bilateral relations
Five thousand people packed the Chancellor Hall of Universiti-Malaysia Sabah in Kota Kinabalu on February 16 to watch a cultural extravaganza by a 41-member Chinese team. It was a fitting start to the Chinese tiger year to herald better bilateral ties between Sabah and China through cultural exchanges.
Sabah chief minister Musa Aman who launched the “Malaysia-China, Festival of Spring” on the third day of the Chinese new year celebration hoped such cultural exchanges would lead to academic cooperation in research into the unique traditions of the people to foster greater international understanding.
Mr Musa presented a cheque of 100,000 ringgit ($29,412) on behalf of his government to the Federation of Chinese Associations of Sabah (FCAS) for organising the cultural show.
He hoped that cultural exchanges would continue to grow and that the sluggish global economy was no excuse “to stop visiting one another.”
The crowd, including foreign minister Anifah Aman who was the guest of honour, was thrilled by the spectacular display of Chinese dances and songs.
Earlier in a Chinese new year message, Mr Musa called on Sabahans to continue to foster peace and harmony in Sabah’s unique showcase of unity in diversity.
He assured the people of greater economic development in the new year as projects under the 105-billion ringgit Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) are carried out. The SDC is expected to create 900,000 jobs for Sabahans.
The Sabah government, he said, would continue to give financial assistance to “houses of worship, including Chinese temples” in upholding religious freedom.
-- Reported by Jenny Juanis and Henry Matakim
Posted on 19-02-2010 03:00 pm
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I hope 2012 will bring more peace, harmony, successes and development to all of us.
Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman speaking at the dragon, lion and unicon dance festival in Kota Kinabalu on January 14.
