KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has expressed hopes for Malaysia to continue to be stable, progressive, peaceful and prosperous.
“With this year’s National Day and Malaysia Day 2023 theme of ‘Malaysia Madani: Tekad Perpaduan Penuhi Harapan’, let us all pray for our beloved country to remain stable, progressive, peaceful and prosperous,” he said in the commemorative book for the 66th National Day state-level celebration.
This year, Mukah has been chosen as the centre of festivities held simultaneously with the national-level celebration in Putrajaya.
“We also earnestly hope that Sarawak, as a region that contributes to Malaysia, will continue its transformation to become an advanced high-income region by 2030, as envisioned by all Sarawakians,” he said.
Abang Johari stressed that the spirit of unity among the diverse ethnic groups, which was the cornerstone of Malaysia’s formation beginning with the independence of Malaya on Aug 31, 1957, and followed by the merger of Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah on Sept 16, 1963, to form Malaysia, should continue to be embraced and strengthened.
“We collectively pray that the dreams of the nation’s founding leaders, led by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the Father of Malaysian Independence, to build an advanced and prosperous nation based on ethnic unity, will not be in vain.
“As part of this year’s National Day celebration, I invite all Malaysians, especially the people of Sarawak, to ensure that our society remains united, transcending ethnicity and religion, in line with the spirit of ‘Unity in Diversity,’ which is the guiding principle of the people of the Land of the Hornbill.
“I pray that our nation as a whole and specifically Sarawak, will continue to be protected by Allah SWT with enduring goodness and prosperity. May all our endeavors in developing Malaysia to greater heights and continued brilliance be accelerated,” he said.
