KOTA KINABALU: An additional holiday on the eve of Malaysia Day is a welcome break for most people, but some feel that Sabah already has too many state and national holidays, so another day is not necessary.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Deputy Chief Minister II Dauk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam both disagreed with the move to declare Sept 15 a public holiday.
“Personally, I feel Malaysia, especially Sabah, has too many holidays already,” Dr Gunsalam, who is Parti Bersatu Sabah president, said.
Kitingan said Malaysia Day is already a national holiday and there is no need to declare another day.
“For Sabah and Sarawak at this juncture, we want the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and its rights under the Constitution to be fully implemented.
“That should be the priority,” he added.
Sabah Progressive Party president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee also said the extra day is unnecessary.
Unionist Laurence Vun said any holiday would be welcomed by workers. However, he felt a holiday on the eve of Malaysia Day might not help the spirit of Malaysia.
“I don’t think an additional holiday would bring any significance to the meaning of Malaysia Day.
“For Sabahans and Sarawakians, we feel Malaysia Day should be marked to make all Malaysians equal in every sense of the word – in our civil service as well as all sectors of government and private enterprise,” said Vun, a Sabah Cuepacs executive.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Prof Dr Lee Kuok Tiung felt that the announcement was aimed at boosting domestic tourism.
“The additional holiday will encourage more people to go on a longer weekend holiday break,” he said.
Several businessmen also felt that there are too many holidays, resulting in them having to pay overtime to staff and bear higher costs.
