Love Sabah

The Borneo Heritage Foundation (BHF) Thursday launched its Love Sabah campaign and BHF Charity Fund, which it hopes will provide the impetus for Sabah and its people to have a new beginning for progress.

Its Chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who launched these simultaneously at the Tambunan Golf Country and Club (TNGCC) here, said the Cinta Sabah campaign is to promote love and patriotism for Sabah as a land of peace, harmony and abundance, despite its diversity in people, culture, language and religion and with world renown habitats in nature, flora and fauna.

"The best way to promote Sabah is to promote a love for Sabah with the philosophy, understanding and belief that when you love something, you will take care and protect it from harm's way," he said.

Jeffrey said the Cinta Sabah campaign would kick-off with a Cinta Sabah song-writing contest, which will be based on the theme Cinta Sabah with elements of local heritage and aspiration.

Winning entries would be presented with cash and other prizes, he said, adding the contest ends on Aug 31 and the winners will be announced on Malaysia Day on Sept 16, 2011, with the awards presentation ceremony to be held on Sept 30, 2011.

"Once a proud State rich and abundant in natural resources including oil and gas, it is now the poorest State in Malaysia with 40 per cent of all the poor and losing almost 100 per cent of its oil and gas resources," he said.

With a view of offering whatever assistance it can, Jeffrey said BHF will establish the BHF Charity Fund as a fund to be generated by Sabah-loving people for the people of the State.

As part of the Cinta Sabah campaign as well as to collect funds for the BHF Charity Fund, he said a Cinta Sabah charity golf will also be held.

Details of the charity golf and other Cinta Sabah programmes will be announced in due course.

"BHF hopes that the simultaneous launch of the Cinta Sabah campaign and the establishment of the BHF Charity Fund will in a way provide the lead and the impetus as the first step for Sabah and its people to have a new beginning for progress," he said.

He said BHF further hoped that Sabah can and will become a vibrant and progressive State in Malaysia and contribute more than its fair share towards the progress and development of the country, once its rightful place in Malaysia has been restored.

"And also at the same time enabling Sabahans and the patriot in each Sabahan and all Sabah-loving Malaysians to rise to the occasion and support the Cinta Sabah campaign and BHF Charity Fund," he said.

Story Arrangement By: Harry George

Sources: Daily Express

Picture: Google Image