KENINGAU -- The national Kaamatan Festival is being held on Saturday (June 16) for the first time in the rural district of Keningau, allowing thousands of rural residents to participate.
The festival in Keningau will also become the meeting point for local residents and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who will be in attendance to launch the festival.
Many residents from surrounding areas, including Tambunan, Nabawan and Tenom, are planning to visit the Tadau Kaamatan Malaysia Open House.
Since 2009 the festival has been held in Padang Merdeka Kota Kinabalu and this is the first time it has been moved to the outskirts.
RURAL DWELLERS ARE EXCITED
Among the excited local residents are Dr Helen Seminggau, a dentist, who has never had the opportunity to attend the national celebration in Kota Kinabalu due to the distance involved and time constraints.
Dr Helen, who comes from the Sook sub-district, noted that she would not miss the opportunity to participate in the festival this year.
"We, the dwellers here, thank the Information Communication and Culture Ministry under the leadership of Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, and the Sabah state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, for choosing Keningau as the venue for the festival," she told Bernama.
Dr Helen, who operates a dental clinic in Keningau town, said choosing Keningau was a brilliant idea and reflected the government's earnestness in realising the 1Malaysia concept envisioned by the prime minister.
Other than that, the national level Kaamatan celebration is another honour for the Keningau district, since Kadazandusun-Murut College (KDM College) is to be launched on the following day by the prime minister in Tambunan, she said.
HELPING TO DIVERSIFY SABAH'S TOURISM PRODUCTS
The National Level Kaamatan Festival is one of the activities surrounding the Kaamatan festival, celebrated every 30 and 31 May in Sabah, to bolster national unity and the tourism industry.
It also highlights the good relations between both the state and the federal government.
In his closing speech at the Pesta Kaamatan celebration on May 31, Kadazandusun Cultural Association President (KDCA) Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan noted that the Pesta Kaamatan actually served as a unity platform for the various ethnic groups in the state.
The deputy chief minister noted that Keningau, being the host, received support from thousands of Sabahans, especially those from rural areas.
Meanwhile, Melalap (Tenom) State Assemblyman Datuk Radin Malleh described Keningau as a timely choice for this year's celebration.
"This is the best platform to preserve and encourage our local culture, while celebrating our thanks," he said.
Continue reading at: National Kaamatan Festival To Draw Sabah's Rural Residents In Keningau
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