PAPAR, 24 December 2025 – Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living and Member of Parliament for Papar, today shared a personal story about the unique family lineage in Sabah involving inter-ethnic and interfaith marriages, as an example of fostering unity and tolerance in society.
In a shared post, Armizan explained that a large portion of Sabah’s society has diverse family backgrounds, which have become part of daily life and nurture values of tolerance.
“This is the story of our people in Sabah, and this is my family’s story,” said Armizan.
He revealed that on his grandmother’s side, his mother’s family roots trace back to the Kadazan Dusun ethnicity, where he is the 10th generation from the Potou branch within the larger Samat Mukaie family clan.
The Samat clan, he added, has grown through intermarriages involving various ethnicities and religions, spanning states and even countries.
“However, these differences are not dividers. Every celebration observed is celebrated together because, in reality, it is a celebration observed by some members of our own family, including Christmas.”
On this occasion, he extended Christmas greetings to all Malaysians celebrating it, especially the extended Samat family, friends, and the entire community of Papar.
“May this celebration serve as a platform to further strengthen family ties, tolerance, and unity among us,” he added.
Armizan also wished everyone a Happy New Year, hoping that 2026 will be a more valuable and meaningful year for all, bringing multiplied prosperity to our beloved nation.
This personal story is seen as a positive message during the festive season, in line with the cultural and ethnic diversity that is a strength of Sabah and Malaysia as a whole.
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