Kota kinabalu: The Kaamatan Festival must become more than just a harvest celebration for Sabahans, serving instead as a vital platform to preserve the state's rich ethnic traditions, languages, and cultural identity from disappearing with time.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam emphasized the importance of actively protecting and passing down the state's culture, which reflects the true identity of its people. He highlighted the need to preserve the identity of ethnic groups such as the Tatana, Bisaya, Dusun, and Kadazan communities to prevent the loss of Sabah's cultural identity.
Dr Joachim, who also chairs the Sabah State-Level Kaamatan Festival Celebration Main Committee 2026, noted the significant diversity within Sabah's population, which includes 33 indigenous ethnic groups speaking over 50 languages and 80 dialects. He stressed that cultural preservation is increasingly important in this context.
The Kaamatan Festival, celebrated annually throughout May with main events on May 30 and 31, is a traditional thanksgiving celebration for harvests obtained and symbolizes unity among Sabah's communities. Dr Joachim, who is also the Sabah Works and Utilities Minister, expressed satisfaction with the revival and promotion of various cultural aspects, including traditional sports, especially among the younger generations.
He emphasized that Sabah's unique cultural heritage is not only a symbol of identity but also a crucial pillar in the state's development under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 roadmap. He underscored the importance of safeguarding unity in line with this year's Kaamatan Festival theme, 'Harvesting Unity, Celebrating Harmony'.
Dr Joachim also reminded the public not to take the current peace and unity for granted but to continue strengthening solidarity across different ethnic and sub-ethnic communities. He pointed out that with Sabah's indigenous population being relatively small, unity is essential for socio-economic development. He concluded by highlighting the significance of 'harvesting' unity during the month of May.