Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman called on the Chinese community in Sabah to give their undivided support to the government, apart from continuing to play a role in developing and bringing further progress to this state.

Musa said he believed that the political stability, unity, harmony and tolerance in Sabah would contribute to the overall progress and prosperity of the state.

"The state government is sincere in ensuring the needs of all Malaysians in Sabah are met in a fair manner," he said at the Chinese New Year Ang Pau Festival hosted by the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah here last night.

Musa said the state government had never sidelined any race or ethnic group in implementing development programmes in Sabah.

"Our commitment to all is proven through the large annual allocation for schools and non-Islamic places of worship, including those of the Chinese community," he added.

At the event, Musa also announced that the state government pledged to give a RM50,000 allocation to the federation.

Meanwhile, on the catamaran tragedy, Musa said the Sabah government was doing its level best to assist the search for those who are still missing and those who have suffered in the mishap.

"On behalf of the state government, I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the families of those who perished in the recent boating accident," he said.

Last Saturday, a catamaran with 31 on board, comprising 28 tourists from China and three crew, capsized at about 10am, an hour after leaving from the Tanjung Aru jetty to Pulau Mengalum, about 56km from Kota Kinabalu.

Twenty-five of the 31 people have been accounted for while six are still missing.

The area of the search for the missing six victims has been expanded to 3,900 sq nautical miles with the teams beginning to enter the waters off Miri, Sarawak on Tuesday.

- BERNAMA