By Allan G Dumbong During the Kaamatan Celebration 2007, a new Kaamatan innovation was introduced by one Kadazandusun woman entrepreneur, Ms Clare Bernard, from Kg Pogunon, Penampang. It has converted an idle bamboo hut in the Hongkod Koisaan compound into an elegant traditional costume gallery. This is considered a new product and service innovation offered by the Kadazandusun community as has never been offered at any Kaamatan celebration before. According to Ms Clare Bernard, the traditional costume?s gallery is concentrating on the traditional costume which we can find in Sabah, such as the Kadazan Penampang, Kadazan Papar, Lotud, Rungus, Dusun Tindal, Murut, Bajau and others. Its main service is photo taking session with traditional costume. It also sells and rent out the Kadazandusun traditional costumes. Besides the traditional costume, the entrepreneur is also making batik based on local ethnics? motifs. ?We are using the pattern of the traditional costumes to design our batik and it is exclusively design for one person per design?, said Bernard. The main objective of this gallery is to keep the Kadazandusun traditional costumes identity alive so that the future generation can enjoy and be familiar with their traditional costumes. Secondly, it also aims to educate and to provide information specifically in traditional costume that can be found in Sabah. Thirdly, it creates another business opportunity that compliments other business activities during the Kaamatan as well as the Kadazandusun business and economy in general. Fourthly, it hopes that the gallery is eventually being known and get associated with other indigenous costume organizations internationally.

By K.KASTURI DEWI PENANGITES had the opportunity to celebrate Sabah?s Hari Kaamatan or Harvest Festival at Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel recently. The annual festival, also known as Tadau Kaamatan, saw dancers in elaborately beaded costumes, performing traditional dances such as the Sumazau. The dancers were almost floating effortlessly in their rhythmically paced steps. Although living away from home, the Sabahans put in much effort to show and share their rich cultural and ethnic background with the locals. The event is one of the biggest and most colourful multi-ethnic celebrations among the predominantly Kadazandusun, Iban, Murut, Rungus, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu farming communities. Besides the traditional dances, the celebration also saw a singing contest where seven contestants took part. The contestants mainly rendered songs related to the Harvest Festival. National Unity and Integration Department director-general Datuk Azman Amin?Hassan who represented Minister in the?? Prime Minister?s Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the event was a way of keeping the tradition alive. ?It also fosters unity and promotes?cultural awareness among Malaysians of?our rich multi-cultural diversity,? he said. Azman said this was one of the reasons foreign tourists were impressed with Malaysia. The celebration was organised by?National Unity and Integration Department and Penang branch of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA). Source: The Star, Tuesday May 8, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: KDCA Pulau Pinang branch wants to get the approval of headquarters here to send its representatives for this year's State-level Pesta Kaamatan Unduk Ngadau and Sugandoi competitions at the Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang. Its pro tem chairman, Jodin Pamajah, said they would be working towards getting similar status attained by the KDCA Klang Valley branch, which had been sending its representatives for the event. He said KDCA Pulau Pinang would be holding its inaugural Pesta Kaamatan involving Sabah community residing in the northern part of the peninsula on May 14 at Tanjung Bunga Beach Hotel. Penang State Assemblyman for Kebun Bunga is expected to officiate at the event. KDCA_Penang_2 ? Some of the KDCA Pulau Pinang organizing committee, led by Jodin Pamajah (left) taking photo with Datuk Pairin and Datuk Richard Bainon (seated second from right) Met at a dinner with the Huguan Siou here, Jodin, who is from Tandek and working with a Japan multi-national company in Penang, said prior to this Sabahans used to hold parties in conjunction with the Kaamatan Month but this year they had decided to hold the Pesta Kaamatan. He said they had also obtained the cooperation of the Penang State Unity and Integration Department. It is estimated that there are about 4,000 Sabahans currently working and residing in the northern part of peninsular Malaysia encompassing Perak, Kedah and Perlis.

By Henry Bating & Allan Dumbong The 1st International Harvest Festival & Conference (IHFC), which was jointly organised by UiTM Sabah and the National Unity Department of the Prime Minister's Department, was officially opened by Honorable Datuk Dr Maximus J Ongkili, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department on 24th May 2007 at Nexus Resort Karambunai, Kota Kinabalu. The Guest of Honour at the Conference was Huguan Siou Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan, the President of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA). Huguan Siou harvesting paddy to mark the inaugural of IHFC, also seen Dr Max (extreme left) and Prof Madya Dr Worran Hj Kabul, Campus Director of UiTM Sabah Branch. After ceremony ... Huguan Siou with Dr Max, and at the back (left) is Dr Andreas Totu, the Dean of PPIB UMS and Datuk James Vitales (back right) The key IHFC organisers... Huguan Siou shaking hands with Prof Madya Dorothy Chin, Organising Chairperson of the IHFC and her vice chairperson, Christina John Luan.

Oleh Henry Bating & Allan Dumbong KENINGAU: Potensi pelaburan penanaman ?Kayu Koningau? dan keunikan persekitaran semulajadi telah menjadi daya tarik utama kepada kehadiran lebih ramai pelabur dan pelancong ke daerah ini sejak akhir-akhir ini. Timbalan Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan berkata kemudahan infrastruktur yang kian bertambah baik di Kawasan Keningau juga telah menambahkan lagi daya tarikan itu sekaligus membantu meningkatkan kegiatan-kegiatan ekonomi setempat. ?Kita melihat perkembangan ini di dalam perayaan-perayaan yang diadakan termasuklah Pesta Kaamatan, sebab itu promosi yang lebih tersusun perlu dipergiatkan lagi,? kata Pairin. Pairin yang juga Menteri Pembangunan Luar Bandar dan Ahli Parlimen Keningau berkata demikian ketika berucap merasmikan Pesta Kaamatan Peringkat Daerah Keningau di Dewan Arked di sini hari ini (19Mei, 11am). Huguan Siou dan M. Nasir dalam suasana kemeriahan Kaamatan di satu sesi Sumayau Menurut Pairin lagi kehadiran lebih ramai pelawat ke daerah ini perlu diiringi usaha-usaha memelihara unsur-unsur kebudayaan dan kemahiran-kemahiran warisan tradisi agar para pelawat berkesempatan melihat dari dekat unsur-unsur kesenian itu. Seterusnya Pairin mengalu-alukan kehadiran seniman unggul tanahair, M Nasir yang kebetulan berada di daerah ini beberapa minggu untuk menjalankan penggambaran filemnya bertajuk ?Aduh Saleha?. Sempena Pesta Kaamatan Peringkat Daerah Keningau, krew M Nasir turut membuka ruang pameran dan mengadakan temuduga terbuka untuk memilih pelakon-pelakon yang diperlukan untuk beraksi di dalam filem itu. Turut hadir Adun Sook Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, Adun Liawan Datuk Sairin Karno, Adun Bingkor Justin Guka, Ahli Parlimen Pensiangan Bernard Maraat, Adun Kiulu Datuk Louis Rampas, Timbalan Speaker DUN Datuk James Vitales dan pemimpin vateren Tan Sri Hj Suffian Koroh. Huguan Siou dan M. Nasir turutsama menikmati sajian tradisi sempena Pesta Kaamatan Keningau

Huguan Siou Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan mengajak para petani di sini agar meningkatkan penanaman ?Cendawan Shitake? kerana ianya mempunyai permintaan yang tinggi dan dapat menjanjikan sumber pendapatan lumayan kepada para pengusaha. Menurut Pairin, selain mengusahakan tanaman tradisi seperti padi, para petani juga perlu menambahkan usaha dengan memberi tumpuan kepada tanaman yang memiliki pasaran tersedia dengan tawaran harga yang tinggi. ?Memang para petani di sini (Tambunan) ada juga mengusahakan tanaman cendawan shitake, namun kita perlu memastikan berapakah kemampuan pengeluaran kita ? pada waktu yang sama kita perlu mendapat maklumat dari pasaran berapakah jumlah pengeluaran yang diperlukan,? kata Pairin. Pairin yang juga Menteri Pembangunan Luar Bandar dan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Induk Pesta Kaamatan Peringkat Negeri 2007 berkata demikian ketika berucap merasmikan Pesta Kaamatan Peringkat Daerah Tambunan di Pisompuruan Square pagi ini (5Mei, 11am). Terdahulu, Pairin bersama para tetamu khas mengunjungi gerai-gerai yang mempamerkan pelbagai hasil pertanian, penternakan dan pembuatan termasuk pameran dan jualan cendawan shitake. Turut hadir Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Menteri Pembangunan Sumber dan Kemajuan Teknologi Maklumat Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Datuk James Vitales, Jornah Mozihim, Jahid Jahim, Datuk Louis Rampas, Johnny Goh, Ahli Parlimen Pensiangan Bernard Maraat dan Datuk Verus Aman Sham yang mewakili syarikat Jepun di Kuala Lumpur yang menjalankan perniagaan berasaskan cendawan shitake. Sementara itu Pairin turut mengajak semua pihak agar menjalankan usaha bersama mengumpul, menyimpan dan memperkenalkan pelbagai unsur warisan tradisi seperti yang ditonjolkan di dalam Pesta Kaamatan kerana ianya merupakan sebahagian daripada kekayaan yang perlu dihidupkan untuk membantu memperkembangkan industri pelancongan. Photo Caption: shitake1 ? Huguan Siou memperlihatkan salah satu bungkusan cendawan shitake yang ada dalam pameran untuk dijual