Unity in Diversity is Sabah’s Greatest Strength: Hajiji

1 August 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The unity of Sabah’s diverse races and religions is the foundation of the state’s strength and prosperity.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri PanglimaHajiji Noor emphasised that this harmony must be preserved and carried forward as the most valuable legacy for future generations.

“Unity in diversity is Sabah’s true strength. It is not a weakness, but a unique characteristic we should take pride in and strive to protect,” he said at the launch of the National and Sabah Day celebrations, as well as the 2025 Flag-Waving Campaign, held at the Magellan Sutera Harbour Resort on Friday.

The Chief Minister stressed that every individual has a role to play in fostering mutual understanding and harmony, whether in schools, workplaces, business premises, places of worship, or even on digital platforms.

These spaces, he said, should be used to strengthen unity rather than spread division.

Touching on the state’s development progress, Hajiji noted that the implementation of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 1.0 Roadmap has seen promising results. As of May 2025, 94 per cent of the 467 planned initiatives have been successfully implemented.

Key sectors that remain a priority include agriculture, industry, and tourism, alongside efforts to strengthen human capital development, public welfare, infrastructure networks, and environmental sustainability.

Hajiji also highlighted various forms of support provided to the people, including increased access to education and the introduction of the Sabah People's Protection Insurance Scheme, which offers comprehensive benefits to all citizens.

He called on all Malaysians, especially those in Sabah, to proudly fly the Jalur Gemilang in all locations as a visible expression of patriotism and national pride.

“Today’s launch is not merely a ceremonial event. It is a call for all of us to embrace the true meaning of independence, not only freedom from colonial rule, but also liberation from poverty and disunity,” he said.

The National Day and Sabah Day celebrations, held annually in August, serve as a historic reminder of the sacrifices made by past generations in defending the homeland and upholding the dignity of the nation.

“As Malaysians in Sabah, we bear a great responsibility to safeguard the blessings of independence and continue the noble legacy of our forefathers,” he added.

The launch event was marked by the symbolic handing over of national flags to state and federal departments and agencies, association representatives, and the official commencement of the Merdeka Jalur Gemilang Expedition.