Hajiji hopes Tiger Year will bring Sabah's development agenda forward by leaps and bounds

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah hopes the coming Lunar Year of the Tiger will propel its development agenda forward for the people's benefit.

"May the Year of the Tiger... its power, greatness and courage, carry our state forward.

“I also hope the unity among the people of various races and religions in this country is not disturbed," Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said when handing over lion heads to the Ranau Chinese Chamber of Commerce at the Hakka Association Hall in Ranau on Thursday (Jan 27).

He said the Chinese community should support the government in its efforts to develop the state under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah's (GRS) development roadmap outlined in the Sabah Maju Jaya agenda.

During the ceremony, the Chief Minister handed over six lion heads as assistance from the state government to Chinese community associations in the district.

The associations include the Ranau Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Ranau Hakka Association, Chon Chu Kung Ranau Temple, Kinabalu Dragon and Lion Dance Association, Ranau Hokkien Association and Ranau Chinese Peranakan Association.

Hajiji said the state government has allocated RM1mil in assistance for the replacement of lion heads at temples and for related non-governmental organisations (NGOs) across Sabah.

He said the ceremony in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations was a reflection of the GRS government's commitment to and emphasis on equity in all aspects and to help the people regardless of race and religion.

He said the state government had also allocated RM47mil for non-Muslim schools and religious bodies this year, the largest ever allocation approved for this purpose.