RESIDENTS of Ranau have been urged to maintain friendship and community spirit, particularly as the country prepares for the forthcoming general election.
The incumbent Karanaan State Assemblyman, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, called on citizens to respect each other’s political beliefs and to ensure that political differences do not undermine local cohesion.
“We cannot force people to vote for us. But one thing we must hold on to is, do not let political differences cause our country and state to split,” he said.
Masidi made the remarks while officiating the Majlis Ukhwah Madani Komuniti at Kampung Liposu Baru, organised by the Malaysian National Academy (Akademi Kenegaraan, AKM) under the Prime Minister’s Office.
He also praised the credibility of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, noting the presence of world leaders, including former US President Donald Trump, in Kuala Lumpur for the recent ASEAN Summit.
“It is not easy to host world leaders together in one venue, let alone in Malaysia. This shows that global leaders have confidence in our nation’s ability to maintain harmony.
“We are already on a very good path and are recognised worldwide with a positive reputation. Therefore, we must preserve unity and not allow it to be damaged because of the elections,” he added.
Masidi highlighted that Malaysia remains among the best countries to live in, with Sabah standing out as the best state in the country, thanks to its high level of tolerance—a foundation for strong social cohesion.
He also emphasised Sabah’s various advantages, including the Free Accident Insurance Scheme available to all state residents.
“Furthermore, the state government has spent billions of ringgit to provide educational assistance to Sabah’s children.
“God willing, next year we will introduce free tertiary education for all Sabahans attending government colleges. Why are we doing this? Because we can, thanks to successful state financial management. Today, we have savings of RM86 billion and can provide facilities for the people,” he said.
Masidi stressed that all these achievements are the result of political stability, which would be impossible if the government changed frequently every five years.
He also praised AKM for successfully organising the programme and selecting Kampung Liposu Baru as its venue. He expressed hope that participants would benefit from the event, which not only provided valuable insights but also strengthened community ties.
The event was attended by AKM Director-General Datuk Dr Roslan Hussein, appointed assemblywoman Datuk Amisah Yassin, local residents, participants, and village leaders. - October 29, 2025
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