Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor urged the people to continue observing the standard operation procedures (SOPs) during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
“Muslims look forward to Hari Raya Aidilfitri as it symbolises victory after a month-long fasting. We are thankful because there is a difference in this year’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations compared to two years ago when the movement control order (MCO) prevented Muslims from celebrating it with their families in their hometowns.
“The reopening of the country’s border on April 1 gave the people, particularly Muslims, to make the ‘balik kampung’ trip and celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with their families. I am sure many are excited to be going back to their villages.
“Nonetheless, we also realised that the Covid-19 situation in our country and for that matter, the whole world, has yet to fully recover. Even though Sabah’s new cases are on a downward trend, it is also imperative that we continue to adhere to the SOPs,” said the Chief Minister in his Hari Raya Aidilfitri message.
Hajiji also prayed that the frontliners and security forces who are on duty will be able to celebrate Aidilfitri comfortably and to always be safe.
He thanked the people of Sabah for supporting all the Government’s efforts to curb Covid-19 as well as the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) in order to restore the State’s economy.
“I hope all of us will continue to nurture our unity spirit and harmonious relationship,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said the Kaamatan Festival, which is celebrated annually, should serve as the best platform to foster unity among the people of different backgrounds, especially the younger generation, in the State.
He said it is only through unity and cooperation that the people of Sabah could develop the State and not be divided by racial, religious and cultural differences.
“Unity and cooperation are very important and should not be dismissed as something trivial. In Sabah, the people of different races, religions and beliefs have coexisted in harmony for generations.
“Interracial marriages have seen families of different races and beliefs becoming one big family, and we have been able to accept and respect one another.
“Therefore, the Kaamatan Festival should be used as a platform to foster unity among us,” he said in his speech during the launch of State-level Kaamatan Festival 2022 in Keningau, on Sunday. Also present at the event were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan who is also the Kamaatan Festival Main Committee Chairman.
Hajiji also called on the people of Sabah to work together with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)- and Barisan Nasional (BN)-led State Government in order to develop Sabah with various programmes that have been drawn up, especially the five-year Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan.
“With the spirit of Kaamatan, we can together increase the production of padi and other agricultural products. The State Government has allocated RM561.81 million for agriculture, which is a productive sector in providing food for the people, employment and businesses, as well as the supply of raw materials for the manufacturing sector,” he said.
Hajiji also said all efforts have been taken to ensure Sabah will double its current food production by 2030.
He added that the Sabah’s first Agriculture Production Collection Centre will open next month to cater to the demand for 50 million tonnes of high-value agriculture produce such as vegetables, fruits and fresh flowers.
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