HUNDREDS turned up in a show of patriotism at the launch of National Month at Sutera Harbour in Kota Kinabalu, today. 

Chief Minister Shafie Apdal, who arrived in a golf buggy, launched the event.

Personnel of the uniformed forces as well as volunteers took part in the marching parade, and the Rukun Negara was read and the Jalur Gemilang and Sabah flag were raised. 

National Month is held in conjunction with Malaysia Day on September 16.

Shafie in his speech called on Sabahans to play their part in keeping the peace, prosperity and harmony that Sabah had long enjoyed.

It is only by keeping the state stable that more jobs will be created, he said.

“With peace and stability, investors will come and invest so that Sabahans of various races can get jobs. 

With jobs, they will make money and with money they will spend and this is Sabah will progress, he said.

Shafie said Sabah offered many opportunities for investment in the hospitality trade. Investors can build hotels and resorts and thus create jobs for the locals, he said.

The Semporna MP witnessed a martial arts performance by the military before releasing 100 hundred pigeons in a symbolic gesture of freedom. 

One bird failed to take flight, however. Shafie picked up the bird, which was visibly injured, causing his wife, Shuryani Shuaib to take a closer look at it.

“We will be taking this bird home. It’s a Merdeka bird,” she said. – August 16, 2018.