By CLEOPHAS JOHN GORDON

PENAMPANG: This year?s Kaamatan celebration was met with huge excitement and the Hongkod Koisaan was especially congested by people keen to take part in the festivities, especially to witness the highly popular Unduk Ngadau pageant.

This writer and one other from the New Sabah Times, had great difficulty inching their way inside the hall while the Unduk Ngadau was taking place.

Crowds cheered and wolf-whistled for their favourite contestants and many people who travelled from afar to support the contestants, came with significant number of their family and friends too.

Even outside the hall, the crowd appeared a lot bigger than last year?s state-level Kaamatan festival, despite the heavy downpour over the past two days and considerable lack of parking space.

There were also many tourists who could be seen stopping at the various stalls and booths enjoying local delicacies and lihing, a local rice wine, while joining the locals in merry-making.

Edward, from Beluran said the reason he came to the festival in spite of the bad weather was to catch up with friends from the city.

?It has been some time since I last met them so the Kaamatan festival was the best chance to do so,? he said. Another visitor, Vicky, said she travelled all the way from Kudat to show her support to the district?s Unduk Ngadau contestant.

?It?s far but I never miss a chance to visit the Hongkod Koisaan every Kaamatan,? said the 22-year-old from Marang Parang.

She is an avid follower of the Unduk Ngadau contest and always looks forward to it. Earlier in the day, Kadazandusun priestesses or Bobohizan performed the age-old ritual of magavau or thanksgiving ceremony to kick off the harvest festival celebrations.

Among the many cultural performances were the Sumazau dance from the Penampang Kadazandusun community, the Pokodinding by the Dusun Tindal and the Sayau Tatana of Kuala Penyu.

Yesterday?s festivities at the Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang marked the end of the month-long celebration. It was officially declared closed with the cutting of seven paddy stalks by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin who later beat a gong seven times.

Also present was Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is also the Huguan Siou or paramount leader of the Kadazandusun.

Other leaders present were Minister of Energy, Green Technology Water Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Madius Tangau, Minister in the Prime Minister?s Department, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, state cabinet ministers and the 2016 Kaamatan Festival Main Implementation and Coordination Committee Chairman, Datuk Seri Clarence Bongkos Malakun, who is also the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Deputy President.

(Source from New Sabah Times,?1st June, 2016)

KOTA KINABALU: Sherry Anne Laujang, 21, of Penampang was crowned the 2016 State-Level Unduk Ngadau yesterday amidst tough competition among the finalists.

The Kadazan lass, who is studying for a Diploma in Accountancy, was announced the winner of the beauty pageant at about 7pm yesterday.

Coming in second place was Claryssa Henry, 23, a Rungus graduate from Kudat while another Rungus student from Banggi Fenny Ester Joslin, 21, was placed third.

The other four winners were Vinny Alvionitta Sasisting from Matunggong; Christine Joan Charles from Papar; Patriciaelsa Jimy from Klang Valley; and Charmine Bartholomew from Kepayan who won the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh places respectively.

Sherry Anne, who hails from Kampung Ramayah, aspires to become a chartered accountant, is proficient in English and Malay and spends her pastime cooking and baking.

She aspires to be successful and a role model to the younger generation.

Claryssa is proficient in English, Malay and her mother tongue, Rungus. The UNIMAS marketing graduate just turned 23 last May 20 and wants to help in the preservation of Rungus culture.

Besides an avid reader, she has a passion for traditional dances and plays the guitar. Fenny is still pursuing a degree in Finance and hopes to venture into the business world.

She is also fluent in English, Malay and Rungus as well as enjoys traditional and contemporary dance. The Unduk Ngadau 2016 was crowned by last year?s Unduk Ngadau Ryannie Neils Yong.

All the finalists received their prizes from the wife of the Head of State, Toh Puan Norlidah RM Jasni, who was the guest of honour. ? By Cleophas John Gordon

(Source from New Sabah Times,?1st June, 2016)

By ERIC BAGANG

PENAMPANG: The Kaamatan Festival is Sabah?s best example of a harmonious racial melting pot and should be celebrated by everyone regardless of their political affiliations.

Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said the festival reflected the kinship, friendship, camaraderie and unity that have been prevalent in the state.

?We will always support such cultural programmes because we believe that these programmes strengthen unity and that unity has been the foundation for peace in the state. It is also an opportunity for us to know, understand and respect each other?s cultures.

?I urge everyone to appreciate the important message behind this festival as it reminds us that deep understanding, strong friendship and unity strengthen peace in Sabah which is known for being multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural, making Sabah the best example of the 1Malaysia slogan,? he said in his speech at the 2016 state-level Kaamatan Festival closing ceremony at the KDCA Hongkod Koisaan here yesterday.

Musa also called on the people to always support the government for the sake of the state?s prosperity and development.

His speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan who is also president of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA).

The closing ceremony for the state-level Kaamatan was officiated by Head of State, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin yesterday. More than 40,000 people turned up yesterday for the event, which was more than on Monday when an estimated 25,000 people came.

Also present were Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Seri Madius Tangau, Minister in the Prime Minister?s Department, Tan Sri Joseph Kurup as well as state Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun and KDCA Deputy President, Datuk Seri Clarence Bongkos Malakun who is also the 2016 Kaamatan Festival Main Implementation and Coordination Committee chairman.

(Source from New Sabah Times,?1st June, 2016)

OLEH MARRYAN RAZAN

marryan@newsabahtimes.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: Perayaan Pesta Kaamaan akan terus memberi inspirasi dan kekuatan kepada rakyat negeri ini untuk terus bersatu padu dan memantapkan lagi perpaduan bagi menjamin kestabilan, keamanan dan kemakmuran rakyat Malaysia khususnya di Sabah.

Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Aman berkata, ini kerana Pesta Kaamatan bukan sahaja dihadiri masyarakat Kadazandusun tetapi dimeriahkan dengan kehadiran pelbagai lapisan masyarakat termasuk pelancong dari luar negara.

?Saya gembira dengan penglibatan dan sokongan pelbagai pihak dan lapisan rakyat yang terus menjadikan Pesta Kaamatan kekal teras keharmonian dan platform penyatuan rakyat di negeri ini.

?Ironinya Pesta Kaamatan bukan sahaja diraikan bagi menzahirkan rasa syukur terhadap hasil tuaian padi yang banyak, tetapi yang lebih penting ia adalah perayaan yang berupaya mengukuhkan ikatan kekeluargaan dan persahabatan sesama kita rakyat pelbagai kaum, etnik dan budaya.

?Inilah contoh dan adunan terbaik yang menjadi model masyarakat majmuk yang harmoni dan erat. Ia seharusnya dijayakan oleh semua pihak tanpa terhad kepada batasan politik untuk kesejahteraan masyarakat secara keseluruhannya,? katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian dalam teks ucapan majlis penutupan Pesta Kaamatan peringkat negeri yang disempurnakan Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, di Dewan Hongkod Koisaan KDCA Penampang, di sini, kelmarin.

Teks ucapannya disampaikan oleh Timbalan Ketua Menteri Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

Musa berkata, kehadiran pelbagai lapisan masyarakat serta pelancong dari dalam dan luar negara jelas membuktikan bahawa perayaan Pesta Kaamatan melambangkan semangat persaudaraan, persahabatan, rasa kekitaan dan perpaduan yang menjadi budaya dan amalam hidup masyarakat Sabah sejak dahulu lagi.

?Dalam konteks kerajaan negeri, kita akan sentiasa memberi sokongan padu kepada sambutan dan program-program kebudayaan seumpama ini kerana kita yakin dan percaya program seumpama ini mampu mengukuhkan lagi perpaduan masyarakat yang menjadi tulang belakang kepada keamanan di negeri ini.

?Selain itu ia juga memberi peluang untuk kita mengenali, memahami dan menghormati adat dan budaya suku kaum masing-masing,? katanya.

Sehubungan itu beliau menyeru semua lapisan masyarakat agar sama-sama menghayati mesej penting di sebalik perayaan Pesta Kaamatan iaitu persafahaman, persahabatan, perpaduan dan kesatuan yang erat.

?Saya juga ingin mengajak seluruh rakyat Sabah supaya terus bersama-sama dengan kerajaan demi kesejahteraan dan kemajuan di negeri ini,? katanya.

Sambutan Pesta Kaamatan Peringkat Negeri Sabah yang berlangsung selama dua hari dimeriahkan dengan pelbagai acara menarik termasuk persembahan tarian kebudayaan, pertandingan sukan tradisi, pameran dan jualan produk-produk tempatan, makanan dan minuman tradisi.

Acara kemuncak sambutan ini ialah pertandingan Unduk Ngadau disertai 44 peserta mewakili semua daerah seluruh Sabah.

(Sumber daripada New Sabah Times,?1hb Jun, 2016)