Sabah has declared Dec 24 as an additional public holiday in conjunction with Christmas starting this year.

Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal said with the announcement, there will be an additional public holiday for Christmas which falls on Dec 25.

"The matter was decided in the state cabinet meeting this morning and I hope the additional holiday would benefit those celebrating the occasion," he said when speaking at a Christmas celebration in Kota Kinabalu tonight.

"The additional public holiday will enable those celebrating Christmas to return home earlier.”

Also present were three Sabah Deputy Chief Ministers Wilfred Madius Tangau, Jaujan Sambakong and Christina Liew as well as state cabinet ministers.

Mohd Shafie said tonight's Christmas celebration symbolised the solidarity and harmony of the various races and religions in the state.

"Harmony is the key to the development and progress of our country. As such we need to maintain unity for our beloved Sabah state.

"The theme tonight is 'Purity in Harmony' and it is appropriate. Solidarity is created via harmony and harmony would become a source of strength in difficult or good times,” he added.

— Bernama