KOTA KINABALU – August 31 next year will be the first official Sabah Day, as the gazettement was not completed in time for this year’s celebration, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan confirmed.
Jeffrey, who is also Sabah STAR president, said he is working hard to ensure that August 31 will be gazetted as Sabah Day – a matter that he has been pursuing for years.
“It is doable, and it should be done. If Sarawak can accomplish it, why can’t Sabah? We also have our own Sabah Day, just like Sarawak has their own Sarawak Day,” he said in a statement here today.
Nevertheless, Sabah STAR will still commemorate and celebrate Sabah Day in Keningau on August 31, which would include a two-week-long Independence Walk throughout the state, a video competition, a best-slogan competition, and even a concert.
The event, which will be co-organised by STAR youth and non-governmental organisation (NGO) Gerakan Rakyat Sabah, will see the raising of the Sabah flag to kick off the event.
There will also be public exhibitions aimed at raising historical awareness and understanding of Sabah’s history among locals and Malaysians.
“I am looking forward to the merriest Sabah Day yet this year. I hope that many Sabahans will join us as we celebrate 59 years since Sabah gained self-government from the British Empire and honour our forefathers who fought for our independence.
“I would also like to invite other political organisations NGOs to join hands and celebrate this moment in history that marked the end of colonialism in Sabah.
“At the same time, we would like to congratulate Malaysians in the peninsula on their 65th Independence Day celebration on that day,” he added. – The Vibes, August 7, 2022
