Harmony amongst diversity in Sarawak – thoughts on Malaysia Day

suppadmin | September 16, 2014

Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Secretary General, Dato’ Sebastian Ting said it is a joy that Sarawakians will be sharing a historical day with fellow Malaysians all over the country celebrating Malaysia Day.

We, as Sarawakians, take pride that 51 years ago on 16th September 1963, together with Sabah, Federated States of Malaya and Singapore ( Singapore left in 1965) formed our beloved Country, Malaysia, as partners.

In the context of 1Malaysia as subscribed by our Prime Minister, Sarawak is by far a more evidence of the spirit of harmony among people of various ethnic, races and religions and culture.

“It is only in Sarawak that we find Muslims, and Christians live side by side and for many under the same roof, in harmonious settings despite their different beliefs and regional dialects. We send our children to government schools, mission schools, Bumiputras children go to Chinese schools and we celebrate festivities like Hari Raya, Gawai, Chinese New year, Christmas, Deepavali despite the differences in our ethnic and religious background. This is a fantastic place we have here in Sarawak. Such harmony could never be bought as this was nurtured right from the very beginning by our forefathers,” he said.

Sociologists would evidently agree that there is harmony amongst diversity in Sarawak.

Pointing out that “1Malaysia” is very much evidenced in Sarawak, he said Sarawakians genuinely respect and value each other and have totally accepted their fellow brothers and sisters unconditionally even before the formation of Malaysia.

The future generation as well as the young should thus be reminded that the values of unity and harmony should be continued in Sarawak which they have enjoyed all these years. Ting said the Chief Minister often say: We do not welcome culture which is diametrically opposed to our present harmonious culture. We also do not welcome religious bigots who disrupted the religious harmony already entrenched in our society.”

SUPP, as a component party of Barisan Nasional Sarawak, he added, is supportive of the spirit of 1Malaysia and will strive to ensure that the future generation will benefit from such values and to remember to uphold our spirit of patriotism in the country.

“SUPP wishes all a Happy Malaysia Day.”