KOTA MARUDU: Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Vice President Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili has commended the Federal and State governments for the recognition and support given to the Kaamatan celebration thereby making it a permanent event in the calendar of National Open Houses and tourism events in the country.

Speaking after chairing a post-mortem meeting of the organisers of the Rungus longhouse reception held at the KDCA-Huguan Siou Open House last Friday, he said the next step would be for the Federal government to consider declaring 31 May as a National holiday to encourage cultural interaction and further enhance unity among the multi-ethnic population in the country.

“Annually May 30 and 31 have always marked the official closing of the Kaamatan celebrations and represent a culmination of the month-long “ramai-ramai” at the village and district levels throughout the State. The closing events are packaged with a feasting of cultural presentations, traditional sports and music, food and drinks, display of artifacts and cultural assets and, of course, the Unduk Ngadau finale as offered both at the KDCA Open House and the Penampang Cultural Centre.”

Ongkili who is also Bandau MP said the celebrations on May 30 and 31 would be celebrated at a longer scale if one of the days was declared a National Public Holiday with more people from outside the State able to participate in the unique events.

He explained that the request to declare May 31 as a National Kaamatan public holiday was not new, stressing “many Sabahan MPs had voiced the proposal in parliament over the years.”

Commenting on this year’s overall Kaamatan celebrations at State level and throughout the districts, Ongkili said the State government was to be congratulated and thanked for the financial assistance given, adding that many cultural associations including KDCA also contributed manpower and finance in ensuring the success of the functions in various districts.