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

A father of three, Suridi was recognised recently as the Young Farmer of the Year at the annual Cabbage Festival, for which he received a certificate and trophy from Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.Another person recognised at the festival was Jamit Salim, 46, who was named Farmer of the Year. 

As the eldest in the family of nine, he sacrificed a lot working his family land to help educate his siblings – seven of whom are now university graduates.  Jamit began planting vegetables in 1980 and two years later started working his family land commercially. By 1990, he was toiling on a 11-hectare plot alongside 12 workers. Recently he diversified into other farming activities using modern methods.

He planted padi on a four-hectare plot and set up a 40-hectare integrated farm in Kampung Nabutan involving livestock, freshwater fish and prawns. 

Another winner at the festival, which is jointly organised by the Agricultural and Food Industry Ministry, Ranau District Office and the Sabah Tourism Board, was a woman. Jeneh Sapin, 46, was named Woman Farmer of the Year.  A widow, she raised five children on her own by planting vegetables and selling cakes. Now, one child has graduated from a local university while four others are still in school.

Musa, in commending the achievements of all farmers with similar success stories, said modern farming was the key to increasing their earnings.