Kaamatan cheer amidst election heat

Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (left) with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman launcing the state-level Kaamatan Festival celebrations.

KOTA BELUD: Sabah's month-long Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) got underway in this northern district in the thick of election fever with just five days to go before polling day on May 5.

When launching the celebrations, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Amansaid Kaamatan was an opportunity for Sabah's ethnic communities such as the Kadazandusun and Rungus to showcase their unique cultures during the festivities being held at various districts and villages throughout the month of May.

"This is another opportunity for different communities to come together to celebrate our diversity," he said, adding that Kaamatan was a notable event on the Sabah tourism calendar. He said cultural events such as Kaamatan was possible due to Sabah's peace, security and stability that had been the cornerstone of Barisan Nasional's struggle.

Musa said Sabahans appreciated the ruling coalition's efforts and this was reflected in their support for Barisan candidates in the state. "I have travelled to all corners of Sabah and the response to our candidates has been overwhelming. I am sure it is the same in Kota Belud," he added.

Also present at the launch was Huguan Siou or Kadazandusun paramount leader Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president, who said Kaamatan was not only a time for festivities among the ethnic communities but also period to be thankful for whatever they have.

Pairin said the state was fortunate as the nation's leadership had made it a priority to resolve key concerns of Sabahans, and had established the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants as well as an Eastern Sabah Safety Zone to boost security along the east coast to that effect.

"Before, all we heard were excuses about why security was lagging along the 1,400km long coastline in the east coast. Now something is actually being done about it," Pairin added.

Musa launched the Kaamatan celebrations statewide by beating a gong seven times. Musa and Pairin earlier harvested padi stalks to mark the launching of Kaamatan fesvities. He also launched the proposed the Usukan Bay oil and gas support centre to be undertaken by the state owned Yayasan Sabah.

Some participants of the Harvest Queen pageant.

This was followed by the magavau (appeasing the padi spirit) ceremony by Kadazandusun priestesses headed by community elder Aman Sirom Simbuna. Apart from various cultural performances, a popular attraction was the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) pageant involving some 25 contestants from around the Kota Belud district.

-thestar online.