MUSA SUPPORT CHINESE SCHOOLS

IN HIS Chinese New Year Message Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman reminded the people that Malaysians should be proud of the nation's diversity, and he called on all to remain true to their respective cultures and traditions, and to respect one another across the country.

"Our unity is Malaysia’s pillar of progress and growth," he said.

On the economy Musa said Sabah is doing well, notably in oil and gas, palm oil and tourism, which feature strongly in Sabah's segment of Malaysia’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

He reminded the people, however, that the country's economic future hinges on its ability to be creative and to innovate, especially among the young, in order to remain competitive.

"The young have much to offer the nation, and the Government is committed in supporting school leavers to take up tertiary level courses by bringing higher education closer to the people," he said, and he cited the government's establishment of relevant learning centres at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park, the Sandakan Education Hub and the Kimanis Petroleum Training Centre as offering great opportunities for young people to prepare themselves for the challenges ahead.

The Chief Minister also mentioned the on-going Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants. He urged the people to allow the RCI to finish its investigations before forming their own conclusions.

On the government's on-going distribution of the second phase of the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M2) and the RM100 to school-going children across the country, Musa called on Malaysians in Sabah to disregard claims made by the Opposition about such aid programmes.

He especially reassured the Chinese community in Sabah that the state government would continue to support the growth of Chinese schools, temples and cultural activities by granting financial aid for Chinese schools and temples, the way it has done for many years.

"It is my hope that the Chinese community will continue to back the BN government," he said. (Insight Sabah)