KOTA KINABALU: All the candidates who contested in the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) elections have been urged to immediately close rank, after the elections.
Its President, Tan Sri T.C Goh urged this during his speech at the delegates conference cum elections, which were held at the Hakka Hall here, today.
While acknowledging that the ‘friendly contests’ for various positions in its Central Committee were indication of the candidates’ eagerness to serve the Federation, he nonetheless underscored that they should immediately close rank after the elections, and to serve the Federation and the Chinese community, in the spirit of ‘FCAS Family’.
He said, this is also in line with the ‘Malaysian Family’ concept adopted by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob which is well received and supported by all Malaysians.
“I believe whether it is the ‘Malaysian Family’, or ‘Chinese Family’ or ‘FCAS Family’, the important aspect here is the ‘family spirit’ which promotes unity among us Malaysians, at all levels, from an organization, to the community and the nation, as a whole,” he said.
He also urged FCAS leaders and members to consider their involvement in the Federation as a ‘sacred calling’ to serve the Chinese community.
Meanwhile, Goh who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) also underscored that unlike other civil society organizations (CSOs), while the Chinese organizations always concerned with national politics, they are nonetheless apolitical nor aligned to any political parties.
“I personally subscribe to such an apolitical approach. Hence, we do not wish to see Chinese organizations in the country being politicized by any political party or politician, by any means.
He thus advised those individuals with political agendas to strictly stay away from Chinese organizations, and to solely focus on politics instead, so as not to drag the Chinese organizations into politics.
He claimed to have received complaints from some quarters that there have been attempts by some political operatives to penetrate into Chinese organizations, who even offered ‘goodies’ and ‘incentives’ like ‘fame and position’, to certain Chinese organisation leaders, in order to achieve their political agendas.
“I think such a trend is harmful for the Chinese organizations and should not be allowed. As a responsible Chinese community leader, I have to make clear our stand that, our main concern shall always be the interests and wellbeing of the Chinese organizations, and that of the Chinese community, essentially,” he stressed.
Earlier, Goh also thanked all FCAS leaders and members for their support and recognition in retaining him and his team to continue to lead FCAS, by electing them into its 13th Central Committee.
“We shall continue to do our best to serve FCAS and the Chinese community,” he pledged.
