PITAS, March 18- The people of Sabah have been urged to remain united in the face of challenges that saddled the state and appreciate peace for it is priceless. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri said although Sabah was
free from communist threat that befell the peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak, it had endured the Kalabakan incident in 1965 and to deal with the Lahad Datu intrusion by Sulu terrorists.
(In the Kalabakan incident, a military outpost in the remote Kalabakan district, Tawau came under attack from the Indonesian army during the Confrontation). Abdul Rahim said the people should appreciate history and avoid squabbles to maintain the country’s sovereignty which was akin to a big family.
“If the people are divided, it will enable certain quarters to exploit the people’s vulnerability to serve their own selfish ends.
“In this case, the people should not be influenced by propaganda spread by certain quarters who use whatever methods as for them the end justify the means.
“The people should always observe the basic principles of simplicity, wisdom and rationality, and not emotion,” he said when presenting aid to 70 needy people, chronic patients, bereaved families and disabled people.
Abdul Rahim also reminded the people to give a bigger mandate to the Barisan Nasional government in the next general election to ensure that various transformation programmes could be implemented for the benefit of the people.
“Stability, peace and unity are the keys to the country’s success. They are priceless gifts presented by the BN government to ensure that Malaysia is prosperous and at the forefront of newly independent countries,” he said.
BERNAMA
