PUTRAJAYA has included the harvest festival celebrations in Sabah and Sarawak as among the celebrations that merits a national open house.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said from next year, Sabah’s Kaamatan festival and Sarawak’s Gawai festival will be celebrated nationwide.

This means Malaysia now have six national open houses – Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali, Christmas and the latest inclusion, Gawai and Kaamatan.

“The organising of the national open houses will help us to inculcate unity and understanding between races; ignite the spirit of a New Malaysia, improve ties between leaders and the people and highlight the Malaysian tradition and tourism,” she said at the National-level Christmas Open House in Kota Kinabalu, tonight.

Dr Wan Azizah said Putrajaya is aware that unity, racial harmony and tolerance between religions contributes to the country’s political stability and subsequently ignites success in terms of national development and future.

Also present at the event were Works Minister Baru Bian, Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew and Sabah Police Commissioner Omar Mammah.

The annual Kaamatan Festival is a month-long celebrations ending May 30 and 31, while Gawai begins on May 1 and ends on June 1.

The festivals are to celebrate a bountiful harvest.

East Malaysians, especially Sabahans, have previously urged Putrajaya to recognise the Kaamatan festival as a National public holiday.

Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal said he was honoured that Sabah has been chosen for the national Christmas open house.

He said Sabah holds the fine example where its multi-ethnic and multi-religious people can live in harmony.

“Malaysians in Sabah, have over the years, time and time again, shown high tolerance for each other and frown on those trying to split the unity of the people in the state.

“No matter how some people with vested interest try to create animosity in Sabah, it fails to take root as most people in this state rise above the extremist elements aimed breaking up society,” he said.

Shafie said he believed this ability comes from the easygoing lifestyle and the bond between the Sabah people.

However, he said he noticed in some parts of the country a certain degree of racial and distrust have taken place among the population.

He said certain political parties continuously use race and religion to divide and create fear among the people.

Shafie said such politics must be avoided towards building a better Malaysia.

“Today, the Pakatan Harapan federal government and the state Parti Warisan Sabah, with PKR, DAP and the United Pasok Momogun KadazanDusunMurut Organisation (Upko) are working closely together to bring about a true sense of unity among Malaysians.

“We have promised to bring bring change and break away from the racially divisive policies of the previous government led by Umno,” he said. – December 29, 2018.