Gobind proposes shifting Malaysia Day celebrations to Peninsular Malaysia next year

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Day might be celebrated in Peninsular Malaysia next year, said Communications and Multimedia minister Gobind Singh Deo.

He said Malaysia Day was an important event not just for Sabah and Sarawak, but for the whole country.

“I will propose that the Malaysia Day celebration will be held in Peninsular Malaysia next year,” he said.

He was responding to questions as to why Malaysia Day seems to only be focused in Sabah and Sarawak, and not in West Malaysia as well.

Gobind visited the Malaysia Day event site at Padang Merdeka in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday (Sept 15) as the programme co-organising chairperson.

He added he will propose to have all states in the country hold their own Malaysia Day programme in future.

“We are a multi-racial country and all Malaysians need to appreciate this day, as well as the peace and harmony enjoyed all these years,” he said.

He said all Malaysians need to understand one another and foster closer relations and unity amid the differences in race, religion and culture.

Gobind explained that after the change of government following GE14, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had decided to hold the National Day celebration on Aug 31 in the peninsula while Sabah was chosen as the host for this year’s Malaysia Day celebrations.

“This is also to celebrate the change of government in Sabah,” he said.

Meanwhile, he urged the people to come and enjoy the celebration here on Sunday (Sept 16).

“Let us all come together to enjoy this event and remember the sacrifices of our forefathers who had made Malaysia possible,” said Gobind.- Star