Malaysia Day celebration should be inclusive nationwide - Sabah BTN director

The Malaysia Day celebration should be more inclusive and held on a larger scale nationwide and not only centred in Sabah and Sarawak, said Sabah National Civics Bureau (BTN) director Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

He said it would make the celebration of Malaysia Day on September 16 every year more significant after it was gazetted as a public holiday as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in 2009.

"With such a big scale and lively celebration to mark Malaysia Day, including in Peninsular Malaysia, it will symbolise the sharing of one of the key foundations in the formation of Malaysia by all Malaysians," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the "Sesi Bicara Negaraku Sehati Sejiwa" programme with members of the Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) here today.

On the parochial traits of certain quarters in fighting for the interests of their states within the federation, Armizan said it was not wrong but the approach should be in a proper manner. - BERNAMA