KUCHING: Unity and understanding among all races need to be enhanced and strengthened at all times.
SUPP Public Complaints Bureau chief Wilfred Yap believed that only through such actions would peace and harmony continue to prevail in the country.
“As we celebrate Chinese New Year, SUPP Public Complaints Bureau and SUPP Kota Sentosa also hope that Sarawakians will all strive to enhance the spirit of patriotism of One Sarawak and love for our country and recommit ourselves to further develop and strengthen the unity and understanding between the races with trust and respect for one another.”
“Let us not forget the multi-cultural and multi-religious fabric of our society as it is through harmony and understanding among the various races that binds us all together as one people under One Sarawak,” he said during a visit to the Kota Sentosa hawker market near here yesterday.
“In multi-racial and multi-cultural Sarawak, we have a range of traditions, festivals and rituals all year round.
“These festivals and rituals go beyond the superficial as they are part of our rich Sarawakian culture and heritage,” he said.
“Sarawakians still observe the festivals for the value they add to family togetherness and social bonding. They still flourish today because many among the older generation have persisted in seeking to preserve and sustain them as part of our tradition and heritage.
“Traditions, customs and festivals are the foremost of our One Sarawak identity as a race, as a people and as a nation,” he added.
“Festivals like the Chinese New Year have become occasions for Sarawakians to get together to renew familial ties and friendships. This alone is reason enough for us to continue celebrating them. We observe them today because they anchor us to our past as well as link our children to us.”
Yap and several members of SUPP Kota Sentosa gave out oranges and exchanged well wishes with the hawkers and shoppers during the visit.
