KUCHING: Santubong MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar hopes that the federal government’s decision to hold the national-level Malaysia Day celebration in Sarawak this year would not be for some political purpose.
He said the ultimate purpose should be to forge solidarity, cohesiveness and understanding to bridge whatever gap there is between Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya.
“Malaysia Day should showcase our spirit of unity as a nation rather than politicise or glorify a particular party or group,” he told New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
“It is not only about races and ethnicity, but also to bring closer people of different states and regions.”
While welcoming the move to allow Sarawak to host the celebration, Wan Junaidi stressed that if the intention was political, it would be better to organise Malaysia Day elsewhere.
He further suggested that the state must have some say in the matter and its coverage by the media to ensure transparency.
“If the federal government wants to do it in Sarawak, we must have an assurance that the cost will be fully borne by the federal government.
“And since it is jointly organised by the federal and the state government, both must have a say on the participation and representation in all its organisation and management, balanced reporting on activities, speeches, and coverage by the electronic, printed and social media,” he said.
“The organising committee should be co-chaired by a federal and a state minister,” he said.
“Strong emphasis is to be made on the participation of all races rather than one ethnic or racial group.
“Similarly, the cultural presentations must reflect the racial compositions of Malaysia.”
Wan Junaidi also explained the hosting of the celebration was agreed to during a Cabinet meeting in 2017 which resolved that the selected state might reject or accept the offer to play host.
“It was agreed that the federal government would select the host state on a rotation basis while Sarawak and Sabah may, at any time, bid to host the celebration,” he said.
