KENINGAU:Primary and secondary school students need to deepen their knowledge on the Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus (KDMR) traditional customs like arts, costumes and food.
The Sabah Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) Party Wiramuda Chief, Kong Soon Choi, said the KDMR community is rich in traditional practices.
“As we know, the KDMR community is well-known for its traditional customs that are very attractive to the whole community in the country.
“All of these advantages are the core of the image of the KDMR community that school students need to learn,” he said.
Kong said this when officiating at the Keningau-level HIIS Competition in conjunction with the 2023 Kaamatan Festival held at the community hall, here, last Friday.
He said HIIS comprises various genres such as Ta-Ala-Ala, Tundodoi, Sundawil, Tunturu, Sisinsiron, Sundait, Andayayong and Manambalang.
At the same time, he also welcomed the cooperation of any public and private institutions of higher learning (IPTA) that specialised in ethnic studies to publish the results of the KDMR community study as reading materials for students.
“I believe there are IPTA and IPTS experts in ethnic studies who are capable of publishing books on KDMR community studies that can then be distributed to schools,” he said.
The competition was attended by four schools involving participants from primary school students which saw the Ogingo group emerged as champion, while second place went Tanak Sandad group and Tanak Koubasanan Bundu group in third.
Also present at the event were Keningau District KDCA Vice Chairman, Razidin Robert, Keningau District HIIS Competition Chairman, Atamah Tingadon and Sabah Star Wiramuda Exco, Chong Jin Han.