Musa receiving a souvenir from Sabah Kadazandusun and Murut president, Datuk Johnny Goh, at the launching of the association’s Sino Day held at Putera Theatre Ballroom in Bukit Padang on Friday night.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman wants associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to engage more youths in their programmes, primarily related to ethnicity and culture.
He said the effort was to instil positive values and further strengthen the spirit of unity and harmony with each other.
“This step is also to preserve ethnic identity and cultural heritage, we can thus prevent the younger generation from becoming involved in unhealthy activities that will eventually destroy their own future,” he said while speaking at the Sino Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) Association’s Sino Day dinner, here, Friday night.
At the event, Musa, who is also state Finance Minister, announced an allocation of RM100,000 to the Sino KDM Association for the association’s programmes planned for next year.
“The government will provide support to associations focused on ethnicity and culture in this state, such as Sino KDM Association which is in good standing,” he said.
He believes the association will be an important platform for young people to appreciate and understand the importance of solidarity and unity.
Earlier, president of Sino KDM, Datuk Johnny Goh, in his speech said the association was established in 2010 to protect the interests of members and Sino descendants in the state.
He also asked the Chief Minister to restore the identity of the Sino as enshrined in the Constitution of the State under the ‘Cap.64 Definition of Native’ in that those who are descended from Sino are recognised as one race and a native ethnic group.
In the meantime, he said the association supports the non-issuance of the Native Certificate after the issuance of which had been frozen for 32 years since 1982. — Bernama