KOTA KINABALU: Retired doctor Datuk Dr Mohan Gopal Naidoo has no regrets about his decision to serve in Sabah government hospitals.
"Sabah is a wonderful place to live. It exemplifies Malaysian culture, with its tolerance and multiracial harmony," said Dr Mohan, the former director of Tuaran Hospital.
"Making friends here is easy; people respect each other regardless of race, religion, language, or beliefs," he added.
Originally from Johor Baru, Dr Mohan married a Dusun from Ranau, and they have two children.
He was met at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, where the Sabah Indian Association (SIA) had set up an exhibition and decorations to celebrate Deepavali.
The exhibition showcases SIA's history, which dates back to its founding in 1947. Dr Mohan is also an executive committee member of SIA.
"In Sabah, people welcome you as family, even if you're different.
"Sabah should serve as a model for other Malaysian states, showcasing unity in diversity.
"This harmony has fostered a stable government, attracting investments that boost the state's economy," he said.
Dr Mohan said that Sabah's Indian community numbers fewer than 5,000, with most now coming from West Malaysia to work as doctors, engineers, teachers, and in other professions.
However, he added that the older generations arrived about 150 years ago during the British colonial period, serving in the North Borneo Chartered Company as police officers, railway staff, and in the land and survey sectors, as well as in the administrative civil service.
"Many in the Indian community here have married locals, forming what I call the 'Masyarakat Peranakan India Sabah,'" he said.
He founded an association to support the welfare and well-being of this community.
"Indian culture here has blended with local traditions, enhancing Sabah's unity in diversity," he said.
The exhibition at the airport aims to introduce Sabah's rich cultural mix to international tourists, contributing to tourism, he said.