Ewon, his wife Datin Connie Parantis taking a wefie with members of the organising committee.
KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick hopes that the concept of this year’s state-level Christmas celebrations will be kept and continued in 2026.
He said the concept of the just concluded four-day celebration, can be co-organised with the City Hall and Sabah Council of Churches, along with the state government.
He said this yuletide event, which is the first of its kind that the state had organised for Christmas, is a historical event in the state’s events calendar.
“It also affirms the commitment to freedom of religion as enshrined in the federal constitution and a respect to the rights for every citizen to practise their own religion, a term set prior to the formation of the federation of Malaysia,” said Ewon at the end of the programme on Friday (Dec 19).
“I will suggest to the Chief Minister and state Cabinet to continue this concept next year,” he said, adding that past celebrations were organised by the Council of Churches with the cooperation of the city hall.
This Christmas carnival was closed by Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Ewon, the organising chairman, hopes such programmes would continue to act as unifying agents in this multi-cultural and multi-religious nation.
“With mutual respect, tolerance and togetherness, I am confident that we will be able to preserve and protect this peace,” he said.
Ewon said with Hajiji’s leadership, the state government will continue to grow towards a more peaceful, united, prosperous and developed future.
He thanked the co-organisers, workforce, agencies and all those involved in making this event a success, while expressing his utmost gratitude to the public regardless of race and religion, who came together to make this celebration merry and memorable.
