KOTA KINABALU, SABAH, Nalaysia , Sept 15, 2025 — DAP Sabah has urged the cancellation of Malaysia Day celebrations in solidarity with the people of Sabah, who are grappling with severe floods, landslides, and widespread disruptions to power and water supplies. The party emphasized that the ongoing humanitarian crisis demands urgent and undivided attention from all levels of government.
The situation in Sabah has been exacerbated by a landslide that toppled a 275kV transmission tower, leading to a blackout and triggering significant disruptions. Concurrently, flash floods have inundated multiple districts, forcing families to evacuate and leaving many with damaged homes and livelihoods. The clean water supply has also been affected in several areas, compounding the emergency.
DAP Sabah Chairman Phoong Jin Zhe stated that the focus of government resources should be redirected entirely towards relief and recovery efforts. “This is not the time for celebration. It is the time for mobilization. The people of Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, and the East Coast are in dire need of shelter, food, clean water, medical assistance, and the immediate restoration of basic utilities,” he said.
The party argued that true unity and patriotism are demonstrated through decisive action and compassion, not through parades or ceremonial events. Phoong highlighted past precedents, such as the cancellation of Merdeka celebrations in Kuala Lumpur following a tragic sinkhole incident in 2024, and the postponement of Aidilfitri celebrations in Selangor after a devastating blaze in Putra Heights in 2025, as examples of leadership prioritizing compassion over ceremony.
DAP Sabah called on state and federal agencies, including local councils and welfare departments, to intensify their efforts to assist affected families. The party stressed the need for additional resource allocation, deployment of personnel, and fast-tracked emergency support to minimize further hardship. They also expressed readiness to cooperate with relevant authorities, NGOs, and community leaders to coordinate aid distribution.
By advocating for the cancellation of Malaysia Day celebrations, DAP Sabah underscored that the most meaningful way to mark this national occasion is by protecting lives, prioritizing the welfare of the people, and restoring essential services. “At this difficult time, channeling all available resources into relief efforts is the truest demonstration of unity and the best way to honor the spirit of Malaysia Day,” the party stated.