CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor invited the people, especially in Tuaran, to collaborate with the government in preserving political stability and economic growth.
He said with continuous cooperation and support from the people, the Government can focus on smooth development in the State.
He said that numerous additional infrastructure projects, including community halls, water and electricity supplies, and roads in the villages, require improvement.
“Planning and funding for these projects have and are being arranged. As a representative of the people in this area, I will pay due attention to every problem faced by the people. Not only in this area but in the whole of Sabah,” he said when officiating the Pesta Kaamatan Suang Olung 2023 at the Dewan Suworoh in Kampung Selupoh, Tuaran, on June 11.
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“That is why today, even though Kaamatan, which is celebrated throughout the month of May, has ended, I am present to greet the people of this area who have given me unwavering support all this while. Thank you, ponsikou om Kotobian Tadau Tagayo Kaamatan.
“I am delighted I can return to the village and go to the ground to meet and celebrate the Pesta Kaamatan Suang Olung with everyone.
This ceremony is unique because it brings together 11 villages. This effort clearly demonstrates that the spirit of unity and tolerance among the people is alive and well,” he said.
Hajiji hopes the festival’s spirit and effort will be instilled in the community to inspire socioeconomic improvement and prosperity.
He said this year’s Kaamatan theme, “Kaamatan Cultivating Unity” clearly urge the people to work together to preserve and increase unity, tolerance and a high sense of belonging.
He said Pesta Kaamatan is a festival that is celebrated every year by the Kadazan Dusun Murut and Rungus community and is a culture that has been inherited for generations.
“This festival is not only aimed at expressing gratitude for a bountiful harvest but also provides an opportunity for relatives to gather and strengthen ties, whether from the Dusun Lotud, Kadazan or Baja Sama ethnic community.
“Hopefully, this Pesta Kaamatan Suang Olung will continue to provide us with inspiration and strength as we work to strengthen the people’s stability, peace, and prosperity.
“Based on these factors, the State Government supports the hosting of such events and proposes that this festival be held on a rotating basis by each village each year, with more villages participating,” he added.
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