PENAMPANG: Kaamatan continues to be an important platform to galvanise unity and cooperation among the people in Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor.
“With strong unity and close cooperation it will help propel Sabah towards greater heights in line with the aspiration of the State goverment under the Halatuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ),” he said.
Speaking at the launch of the state-level Kaamatan celebration at Hongkod Koisaan, KDCA via online here today, the Chief Minister said Kaamatan Festival is a major celebration for Sabah particularly the KDMR community and other ethnics as well.
“The people must make Kaamatan, which brings the message of reconciliation and peace, as the unity pillar for Sabah, which has always been a model for racial harmony in Malaysia,” he said.
Hajiji said the theme chosen for this year’s celebration – “A Borderless Kaamatan for Reconciliation and Peace” – was apt since it really reflects the present situation.
“Inter-state and district movements of the people are restricted in the bid to stop the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
He said the the pandemic had also changed the way Tadau Kaamatan was celebrated with programmes such as the Sugandoi (singing contest) and Unduk Ngadau (beauty pageant) being held online this year.
The festivity can still be felt albeit in a smaller scale, he added.
“I was informed that the live streaming of the Kaamatan programmes in the social media have received very encouraging response,” he said.
“What is important we must always be on our toes and fully comply with the standard operating procedures (SOP) so that we can stop the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
