Pairin Wants Young Sabahans To Promote Solidarity As A Culture
Sunday, 5 September 2004 (Source: Bernama)

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan wants Sabahans, particularly the younger generation, to inculcate solidarity as a culture in their daily routine to ensure continued prosperity and stability in the country.

He said the young generation must learn to adapt themselves to live and work together in a harmonious environment because development would be meaningless if there was no understanding between the various communities.

"It is also important for the young generation to be resilient, highly disciplined, determined and brave in facing all the changes in the new era," he said when declaring open the solidarity queen contest in conjunction with the Merdeka Month 2004 at Hongkod Koisaan, Penampang, near here Sunday.

Pairin said that in the early stages of the formation of Malaysia, there were many groups who were of the opinion that the country was incapable of achieving stability because the plural society would hinder efforts in distributing power and wealth among the people.

However, after 47 years of independence, it was obvious that the negative perception was baseless and incorrect, he said.

"Today, many countries and credible groups including Harvard University in the United States have recognised Malaysia as the best role model in terms of the development of a plural society and the implementation of the democratic system.

"As such, I call upon the rakyat especially the younger generation to appreciate the meaning of independence in our efforts towards solidarity and closer integration," Pairin said.

On the solidarity queen contest, Pairin said it would add a new dimension to the unique social unity through the modeling of traditional dresses of the various ethnic groups in Malaysia.