KUALA LUMPUR: Gerakan will call on the government to declare Malaysia Day on Sept 16 a national celebration to foster greater unity among Malaysians, particularly those from Sabah and Sarawak.
Its president, Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, said Gerakan had initiated the Malaysia Day celebration last year, before it was hijacked by Pakatan Rakyat.
Koh said Gerakan had been unable to continue the celebrations this year following the coalition's announcement that they would take over the government on that date.
"However, we are not yet requesting for Sept 16 to be declared a public holiday."
Speaking after officiating Gerakan's Deepavali open house at the party headquarters here yesterday, Goh said the party would be holding a Hari Raya open house next year.
Koh, meanwhile, called on employers, employees and unions to share the burden of the impending effects of the current global economic crisis, expected to be felt in the next six months.
"Although the country's economic base now is much stronger compared with 10 years ago, a drop in demand for our products will affect our manufacturers.
"Instead of retrenching workers, employers should instead try to redistribute the workforce, even if it means cutting allowances."
On the government's move to borrow RM5 billion from the Employers Provident Fund to be set aside as bail-out for companies hit by the economic crisis, Koh said it was a good idea.
NST online
04/10/08
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