SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF SABAH, Y.A.B. DATUK SERI PANGLIMA MUSA HAJI AMAN, AT THE SAFA GALA NITE WITH QPR AT GRAND BALLROOM, PACIFIC SUTERA, KOTA KINABALU, ON 16^TH JULY 2012

On behalf of the Sabah State Government, I welcome English Premier League football club Queen Park Rangers FC, to the state. Having an English Premier League football club playing against our very own Sabah Selection XI team is indeed an honour. I am also pleased to welcome Tan Sri Tony Fernandez, whose vision for a low cost carrier has allowed a wider segment of society to enjoy air travel. Tan Sri Tony is also responsible for bringing the Queen Park Rangers to Kota Kinabalu, and I am sure local fans cannot wait for tomorrow’s match.

Sabah Selection XI is a team especially brought together to play in this momentous occasion – we have players from Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysian national players and a few local footballers. Sport helps us foster unity and lifts us beyond geographical barriers and is always a joy to see people from all walks of life celebrating the various types of sports, including football, which is very popular in many parts of the world.

Beyond competition or wins, football teaches us about life – about working together towards a goal, building character and teaches us the importance of seizing opportunities. These are marks of excellence that we want to instill in the younger generation, and these values can be shared by playing and watching football. Here in Sabah, football is a popular past time that transcends backgrounds, and many form their own teams and organise matches within their communities.

Tomorrow’s match is also in line with Sabah’s vision of producing home grown world-class athletes. We believe that exposure to playing with teams such as the QPR FC is an important experience for our footballers. As a mark of support for the development of sports, Sabah continues to spend on upgrading relevant infrastructure. This year, some RM1.4 million has been allocated to sports associations in the form of grants, which we hope will translate into the nurturing of world class athletes.

Sabah is thrilled to host the QPR, and it is my sincere hope that you are enjoying your stay here, and savouring our warm hospitality. The city of Kota Kinabalu is fast growing as the gateway for tourists to experience our rainforests, marine life and diverse cultures. We have some of the best attractions, including Sipadan Island ranked among the top 10 diving destinations in the world. Our rich heritage is the essence of what make us unique, and we take pride in conserving our natural biodiversity that exists in various ecosystems. Within the island of Borneo, Sabah is home to some of the most unique animal and plant life known to mankind.

Football binds us all together, and I am sure you will agree with me that it will continue to do so for many more years to come. Tomorrow’s match will forever be etched in the memory of fans, and I hope this will not be the last time QPR visits Sabah. We certainly look forward to welcoming you again in future.

On this note, I wish both teams all the best, and do enjoy the rest of this evening.

Thank you.