PUTRAJAYA: Tadau Kaamatan has been officially declared a National Heritage during the 6th National Heritage Declaration 2026 ceremony at Dewan Sanggar Pujangga here on Thursday.
The announcement was delivered by the Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Chiew Choon Man, marking formal nationwide recognition of the cultural heritage of Sabah’s native community.
Sabah Native Customary Community Organisation (Maans–Sunduan Nabalu) president Shalmon Sanangan, who attended the ceremony, said efforts to elevate the festival began in 2025 through advocacy, national heritage discussions, and campaigns highlighting native customs and identity.
He described the declaration as a collective historical victory for all Sabah natives, traditional practitioners, Bobolian, Bobohizan, ethnic leaders, and past generations rather than an individual or organisational achievement.
The recognition was made under the National Heritage Act 2005 (Act 645), specifically invoking sections governing the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, declarations, nominations, heritage register listings, and preservation.
The listing is expected to broaden opportunities for cultural documentation, research, youth education, traditional knowledge transmission, empowerment of practitioners, structured conservation initiatives, and potential statutory financial support.
Sanangan stressed that the status goes beyond acknowledging an annual festival, serving as national recognition of Sabah indigenous customs, rituals, beliefs, history, and collective identity.
Following the declaration, Maans plans to pay a courtesy call on Huguan Siou Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan to seek guidance on strategic initiatives to advance the safeguarding of the festival and unite the state's native communities.
The organisation also aims to pursue international recognition by nominating Tadau Kaamatan to Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in collaboration with federal and state authorities, heritage departments, academic institutions, and native groups.
Sanangan called on all native Sabahans across all ethnicities, districts, and backgrounds to view the milestone as a foundation for unity and a collective responsibility to preserve ancestral heritage for future generations.
