Sabahans are urged to enliven the celebration of the National Month by hoisting the Jalur Gemilang in every home, residential area and business premises as a sign of appreciation for the meaning of independence that has been achieved.
Sabah Assistant Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Isnin Aliasnih said the gesture of flying the Jalur Gemilang every August has become a tradition entrenched in the country, including in Sabah, the Land Below the Wind.
He said that with more Jalur Gemilang seen fluttering everywhere, it will enhance the patriotic spirit among the people, especially the young generation, so that they can appreciate the meaning of independence more.
“As usual, we encourage all levels of society to fly the Jalur Gemilang at all premises, in villages, towns, cities and anywhere else,” he told Bernama.
The National Month and the Sabah-level Fly-the-Flag campaign was launched by Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Joachim Gunsalam on behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Aug 1.
Meanwhile, a survey of Kota Kinabalu city and the suburban areas in Tuaran, Penampang and Papar found that premises, especially residences and businesses, still have not installed the Jalur Gemilang.
Only government buildings, including the Kinabalu Tower in Kota Kinabalu and the Tuaran district office, were adorned with the colours of the Jalur Gemilang and the Sabah flag, in addition to main roads in the state lined with the flags.
A member of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Senior Lieutenant Zuhudie Arshad was perplexed by the attitude of the public in parting with money and expecting a free Jalur Gemilang, seen as reasons for the lack of houses flying the Jalur Gemilang and Sabah flags.
Zuhudie, 35, who has served more than 10 years in RMN, frowned at the lack of Jalur Gemilang and the Sabah flag being flown every year during the National Month celebrations around the state.
“People need to really understand that this flag symbolises our country, (it is) not about politics or differences between the areas we reside in the Peninsula, Sabah or Sarawak. It unites us under a country called Malaysia,” said Zuhudie, lives in Tuaran.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency