KUCHING: Sarawakians have been urged to celebrate Christmas responsibly by observing all the health practices in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the relapse of COVID-19 in China was the best lesson learned, thus, the people should not throw caution to the wind.
“Let us celebrate responsibly to avoid turning our celebrations into sorrows,” he said in his Christmas message today (Dec 24).
“As the chairman of the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, I would shirk my duty if I fail to remind all that whatever occasions of joy and merriment we celebrate,” he said.
Uggah advised those with comorbidities and those who are yet to have the booster shots, to heed the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM) director Prof Dr David Perera, to be protected.
For the Christians, he said, Christmas is a time of renewal, of reaffirming faith in God and in becoming good followers and practitioners of Christianity.
He said the Christians and all non-Muslim faithful in Sarawak can look forward to with plenty of hope and joy in growing their respective faiths next year.
The Sarawak government, he said, through the Unit for Other Religion (UNIFOR) has graciously presented an early Christmas gift as well as the Chinese New Year ‘angpows’ by allocating RM100 million grants, an increase of RM50 million from previous years.
“This is the government of our Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s continuing policy and legacy of inclusivity. The freedom of religion in Sarawak is not only heard to be practised but is generously assisted to grow and develop,” he said.
“Let racial and religious harmony and tolerance continue to be our hallmark and ensure its foundation remains strong, united, harmonious and progressive. Let us continue to give religious extremism and bigotry in all forms, a very wide berth,” he added.
On the economic front, Uggah said, the Sarawak government has charted the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) for the state to move forward.
He was confident that it would be a workable development plan if Sarawak and its people are resolute enough in using its resources, assets, commitment and in harnessing modern technologies – Sarawak will be a high income society by 2030 as planned.
Uggah added all its programme and plan implementation rightly deserve the people’s full support and participation in order to succeed.
“This Christmas, let us again reaffirm our commitment to our harmony, tolerance and unity by visiting the open house of our Christians brothers and sisters.
“Let us share in their joys and happiness like they appreciate and enjoy ours. Let us pray to our respective Gods for continuing peace, harmony, well-being and prosperity and to allow us all to do very well in either our health, studies, business, jobs and whatever endeavours.
“Have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year too,” he said.
