In his Chinese New Year message, he said they had done much to advance commerce in the country.
“Your hard work and sacrifices in running businesses and your commitment to ventures that you enter into are traits that should be emulated by those who intend to become entrepreneurs,” he said in a statement.
Musa also assured the Chinese community in Sabah that the government was listening to their feedback and would continue to work with them to find solutions to the issues raised.
He said Sabah was a fine example of how diverse traditions and faiths brought the people closer together instead of dividing them.
“We learn from one another and focus on positive values that each person brings. By doing so, we create an atmosphere of harmony and openness.
“My wish for Malaysians in Sabah is to not provide an opportunity for those with ulterior motives to disrupt the harmony and strong ties that we enjoy today. Our forefathers made great sacrifices to build Sabah and Malaysia, and we must honour the legacy that they have left us,” he said.
Musa also praised Sabah’s economy, which he said had remained resilient to both internal and external factors due to strong policies at the federal and state levels.
Likewise, education and security remained important aspects of Sabah’s development, he said.
“For Sabah to achieve success in all that it has planned, we must stay united. Political and economic stability will allow Sabah to develop itself to be at par with the rest of Malaysia.
“Let us all close ranks and work towards a more progressive Sabah and ensure that no one is left behind.”