MAZU Statue being politicised

KOTA KINABALU, 12 May 2009: The construction of the Sea Goddess Statue or better known as Mazu is being politicised and could divide the Chinese community in the State, which already enjoy unity over the years.

Former Hainan Federation of Sabah and Labuan President Foo Fook Ming said the Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology Datuk Dr. Yee Moh Chai's recent statement that the State Government has approved a piece of land in Kudat to the federation for the construction of the Mazu statue is seen as an attempt to create animosity amongst the Chinese.

"What is Yee's intention? Is he being used by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman who is being sued by former Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat over the abrupt cancellation of the construction of Mazu statue in Kudat by the ex-Chief Minister," he said in a statement, here, today.

Foo said it is believed that Yee's statement has political agenda when many Chinese got angry after the construction of the statue in Kudat by Kah Kiat few years, which more than 50 per cent completed, was suddenly stopped.

He also questioned the rationale behind Yee's statement when Kah Kiat's suit has yet to be wrapped up and the location of the statue in Kudat.

"What are Yee's motives for announcing that another NGO has been given the green light to construct Mazu statue even before the court make decision on Kah Kiat suit. Why picked Kudat as the location when Kah Kiat's statue, which have been given stop work order also located at the same district. All this could be summed up that Yee's statement is political in nature," he added.

He also asked the Hainan Federation of Sabah and Labuan current Chairman, John Lim, who happened to be Yee's political secretary whether the federation has received blessing from branches for the highly questionable project.

He further asked John Lim whether he has called all federation branches all over Sabah for a meeting on the matter as well as suggesting location other than Kudat because the statue could also be sited elsewhere..

Foo said while the State Government approval for a construction of the Mazu statue is welcomed but it should not be politicised and certain leaders, in particular, Yee for allowing himself being used for self gain.

He said Musa might used Yee after getting wrath from the Chinese community after Kah Kiat's Mazu project got stop work order and many parts of the statue imported from overseas have already arrived here for quite sometimes.

According to him, such statue is good for the State as it could attract tourists coming into the State while people residing at the district where the statue is located could enjoy economic spill over but politicising it might invite disaster.