Injecting the spirit of love, loyalty through 1M'sia



Published on: Wednesday, August 05, 2015




Kota Kinabalu: Racial unity is the main prerequisite in the effort to build a peaceful, developed and united nation.

"The independence we are enjoying today is a manifestation of the solidarity of the multi-racial and multi-cultural society," said Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

He said this at a media luncheon in conjunction with State-Level National Day, here, Tuesday.

He added that the spirit of cooperation, tolerance and teamwork is the starting point for the country's harmony and peace and therefore it is the responsibility of all citizens to ensure such unity remains.

"The State Government as well as the Communication and Multimedia Ministry will work hard to strengthen the unity of our people as well as our youths through various programmes, geared towards that end," he said.

Hajiji said this year's National Day with its theme Malaysia #sehatisejiwa will look into injecting the spirit of love and loyalty to the country through the 1Malaysia concept which emphasises the harmony and spirit of unity regardless of race and creed.

"The programme today is a medium for us to strengthen the good relationship between the State Government, federal ministries through the Communication and Multimedia Ministry and the media fraternity in the State.

"As the chairman of this year's State-level National Day celebration, I would like to take this opportunity to urge media practitioners to help us promote all the programmes which would fill up this month's calendar as well as the culmination of the celebration on Aug 31," he said.

Hajiji also urged the public and business owners to raise the nation's flags in their homes and business premises for the whole month.

Starting this year, Malaysia Day and Independence Day will no longer be called by its anniversary, but by year.

Several programmes and activities have been lined up to make this year's National Day a much more interesting and exciting events.

The Kembara Merdeka Jalur Gemilang will be launched on Aug 10 in Lintasan Deasoka, to be officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman while its closing event will be officiated by Sabah Minister in charge of Information Datuk Sapawi Ahmad on Sept 15.

The Cheerfulness Competition aims to recognise Malaysians who, either individually or through organisations, showed a high spirit of patriotism. It will be divided into eight categories, namely government building, private building, village, public school, housing estate, private residence, main gateway and Anjung Komuniti 1Malaysia.

Winners will receive RM1,000 for government, private buildings and Anjung Komuniti 1Malaysia, RM2,500 for village and housing estate, RM2,000 for public schools and main gateway and RM500 for private residence.

There will also be a photography competition, open for all Malaysians in Sabah and Labuan. The photos must be taken between Aug 10 and 31 and participants can submit as many original entries as possible. Entrance fee is RM30 per person.

The grand prize is worth RM3,000 and a trophy while the first and second runners-up will receive RM2,000 and RM1,500 each. Five consolation prizes worth RM500 and certificates will also be given away.

A short video competition is open only to youths aged between 13 and 20. The videos must be not more than five minutes inclusive of credit and must demonstrate the spirit of #sehatisejiwa. The videos must be in Bahasa Malaysia only.

Winners stand to bring home RM1,000, a memento and a certificate while second place and third place will receive RM700 and RM500, respectively. Three consolation prizes worth RM200 will also be given to selected participants.

This year's newest competition, the Selfie Merdeka Competition, is sure to bring in a lot of entries if not for its restriction to only members of 1Malaysia Clubs in secondary schools throughout Sabah.

The theme is Saya Sayang Malaysia and the most creative 'selfie' taken with a handphone will be pronounced the winner. Each participant is allowed one entry only.

Further information on all the competitions can be obtained by going to the Information Department's website at www.JabatanPeneranganSabah.gov.my.