By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 18: The close relationship among three Malay employees who have served the Kuching Hokkien Association (KHA) for nearly 20 years reflects the harmony, mutual respect, and unity that underpin Sarawak’s strength as a multiracial society.
According to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, although this may seem like a simple example of everyday work life, it shows how mutual trust, respect, and friendship can develop naturally when people have the opportunity to work together, regardless of their ethnic or cultural backgrounds.
“I understand that the association has employed three local Malay colleagues at its premises, who have remained with the organisation for nearly 20 years.
“Their longstanding service reflects a relationship built not merely on employment, but also on understanding, appreciation, and a shared sense of belonging.
“To me, this is what makes Sarawak special. Our unity is not confined to official functions, policy statements or ceremonial occasions,” he said at the opening ceremony of the Qing Shan Yan Tian Hou Temple at Kampung Muara Tebas here today, where Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian delivered his speech.
He added that such relationships are the true foundation of Sarawak’s social harmony and remind us that inclusiveness is not simply an aspiration to be spoken about, but a value we must demonstrate through our actions and how we treat one another.
Abang Johari said Sarawak is blessed with a rich diversity of ethnicities, religions, languages, and cultural traditions, and these differences have never prevented Sarawakians from living together as one community.
“Our diversity has become one of Sarawak’s greatest strengths. It has shaped our identity, enriched our social fabric, and cultivated a society where mutual respect, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence are deeply embedded in our way of life.
“This is something that we must never take for granted. The peace and harmony we enjoy today result from generations of understanding, cooperation, and goodwill among our people. These values must be continuously preserved, strengthened, and passed on to our children.
“This is the essence of the Sarawak spirit. Our unity does not require us to be identical. Rather, it calls upon us to recognise that our differences can coexist harmoniously within a shared identity, strengthened by mutual trust and a common commitment to the well-being of our society,” he said.
Among those present were Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, Xing Weiping; Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Hazland Abang Hipni; Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor, Dato Wee Hong Seng; Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) director, Dato Georgina Apphia Ngau; Kuching Hokkien Association president, Dato Sri Richard Wee; and Kuching Hokkien Association deputy president, Wong Chiang Kim Huat. — DayakDaily
