Shafie: Turn Kaamatan into a national heritage

KOTA KINABALU: The gong was symbolically beaten seven times and the rice grains stored away in a large earthenware jar to mark the closing of Kaamatan.

With that, Sabah concluded the month-long harvest festival under a new state government led by Parti Warisan Sabah and its partners PKR, DAP and Upko.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said Kaamatan should be a national heritage celebrated by all as it had the power to not only unite Sabahans but also other Malaysians.

“Even in Kuala Lumpur, I’ve seen people from other races celebrating Kaamatan,” he said during the closing at the Hongkod Koisaan (Unity Hall) at the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) in Penampang near here yesterday.

Shafie also promised to improve the state-level celebration and take it to greater heights.

“We will work to make the celebration even more successful,” said Shafie, adding that Kaamatan had big potential to be developed into an industry as it pulled in tourists who flocked to Sabah every May.

He also wanted products such as the traditional costumes of indigenous groups and food to be commercialised at the international level.

“It’s time for us to turn Kaamatan into a huge industry,” said the Warisan president.

Shafie also urged Sabahans to put aside their political differences and work hand in hand to develop the state.

“This is the time for Sabah to rise,” he said.

The month-long Kaamatan began on May 1 with festivities at village and district levels before culminating in a two-day closing ceremony.

The finale began with the staging of various cultural and traditional sport events such as momolastik

(shooting with a slingshot), mioulos

(arm wrestling) and rimpanau

(walking on stilts).

At the KDCA, Sabahans of various faiths and ethnicity were seen proudly dressed in their traditional costumes.

As with tradition, the event ended yesterday with the crowning of the year’s Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen).