KUCHING, Sept 25: Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira expressed worry that racial isolationism is creeping into urban centres like Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.
He cautioned that this negative trend, if kept unchecked, would allow racists to take advantage of the situation and split the people.
“This will (then) disunite the community,” he cautioned, after visiting the 17th Intercultural Mooncake Festival 2018 at Carpenter Street last night. Christopher was representing Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan as the guest-of-honour, and it was the first time he visited the festival, which started on Sept 17 and ended yesterday.
On the festival, Christopher lauded joint co-organising chairmen Sim Kiang Chiok and Amy Tnay Li Ping and also the organising committee for a job well done. He commented that it reflected the true unity of all races in the state.
“I am from the rural area. Back from where I come from, the unity among the different races like the Dayak, Chinese and Malay is seamless.
“We have realised early on that by accepting one another, we can all rise and be helpful to one another. This bond will make any community strong,” he said.
Christopher noted that the festival organisers had made the effort to include entertainment and cultural performance to enhance the air of festivity.
“In the Battle of the Bands competition, for instance, I see a deliberate attempt by the organisers to include youths and modern cultures as well, apart from the obvious intercultural exchanges among the races,” he said. — DayakDaily
