KOTA KINABALU: United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) will be celebrating Malaysia Day from this year onwards.
Its organising secretary, Datuk Wong Thien Fook, said the decision to do so was made during the Supreme Council chaired by Upko acting president Datuk Madius Tangau on Saturday.
“Our leaders did celebrate September 16 before but individually. It is appropriate Upko will from now hold special event for a very special date in our young national history. In conjunction with the 51st anniversary of our beloved country, Upko will hold a dinner cum forum,” he said.
The closed door event at the JBorneo Native Village, Lok Kawi, will be moderated by Dr Paul Porodong and have three panelists namely lawyer Sukumaran Vanugopal, Datuk Yap Pak Leong and Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
They will speak on various issues including the Malaysian Agreement and the 20 Points, the people’s past and present expectations and concerns, and the way forward for Malaysia.
“It will be attended by the party supreme council members, as well as our leaders from the Wanita, Pemuda and Komulakan movements.
“Datuk Madius will do the winding up speech, which we believe will spell out the Upko perspective about our nation and the way forward,” said Wong.