KUCHING, Dec 31: ‘Annus Horribilis’ is the word to describe the year 2020, which means a ‘horrible year’ in Latin.
Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party (Aspirasi) president Lina Soo said it, as the whole world plunged into a never-ending tailspin when hit by the unannounced Covid-19 crisis, followed by economic chaos and political polarisation.
She said 2020 would always be an unforgettable year for everyone as governments struggled to make tough love decisions and the people wrestled to make end’s meet.
“There were tough love decisions made as governments agonised over saving lives or livelihoods. Lockdowns were the order of the day,” she said in a press statement today.
“Governments imposed tough love policies to emit messages that essentially say, ‘I know you don’t like what I’m about to do, but I’m going to do it anyway because it’s good for you.’ Which governments succeeded or failed in their management of the pandemic, only time will tell,” she added.
Though 2020 had been a year of hardships and devastation for most people with grave economic and social imbalances, Soo urged Sarawakians to look forward and never backwards.
Moving into the next decade, she asserted that 2021 must be a year for healing and reconstruction by alleviating poverty, fighting corruption, advocating climate change, and vowing to keep the human race and planet safe and healthy.
And these must be done with joined hands and in unity as Sarawak continues to celebrate another year of multifariousness and diversity.
“The secret is to be strong and united, against all outside forces who try to keep us divided through race and religion dogma and hegemony.
“The buds of change are in motion. We have to be resolute to transform Sarawak, to empower the lives of 2.8 million Sarawakians toward nation-building for a new era, to enable our future generations to live in comfort, harmony and prosperity.
“Be ready to welcome 2021 with renewed hope, love and joy to look forward to a decade of jubilation and triumph,” said Soo.—DayakDaily
