KOTA KINABALU – The revival of the long-abandoned Mazu (Goddess of the Sea) statue project in Kudat has been gaining momentum and support amongst state cabinet members.
Sabah deputy chief minister and state local government minister Datuk Seri Joachim Gunsalam also called for the project to be relooked, following a visit to the site recently.
“Personally, I support this effort because I am convinced that it provides great benefits to the people in Kudat and further adds value to the state’s tourism industry.
“This statue will become another landmark as well as a tourist attraction in the area,” said Joachim.
Also with him during the visit was former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, who also advises on the statue construction project, local leaders consisting of district heads, native heads, deputy native heads, and Chinese captains.
Chong also expressed optimism that millions of people from around the world will converge on Kudat to view the 108ft statue if the abandoned project is revived and accomplished in the near future.
He stressed that the statue will be an important icon for Kudat and Sabah, saying it is all for tourism and protection of the seafarers, and not about religion per se.
Citing an example of the Mazu statue as a major tourist attraction in other parts of the world, Chong said some 10 million people from mainland China visited Sanya in Hainan just to see the Kuan Yin deity (Goddess of Mercy) or touch her feet.
“I am thankful to the state government and chief minister for their understanding and consideration for resumption of the project, as brought up by state tourism minister Christina Liew to resolve the longstanding issue.
“Her remark that past conflicts should be resolved amicably for the benefit of the people of Kudat and Sabah as a whole, and the state’s economy, is most welcomed,” the former deputy chief minister said.
Previously, Datuk Christina Liew, who is the current state tourism and culture minister, had also called for the resumption of the Mazu statue project.
She had reportedly said she will also bring the matter to the Sabah cabinet and to chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Chong noted that this was not the first time Liew had pursued the matter and had raised this in 2018, when she was also the tourism minister in the Warisan-led Sabah government then.
“But I know you (Liew) were constrained under the then Warisan-led government."
Chong said he had gone to see Hajiji several times on the matter and revealed Hajiji had never objected to the statue. – The Vibes, March 31, 2023
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