KOTA KINABALU, June 22, 2011 (The Borneo Post) -- Almost two weeks have passed but the supposedly grandeur national level Kaamatan Open House held on June 11 continues to receive criticism.

The manner in which the event was hosted has been regarded as disrespectful to the traditions and culture of the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) community.

A number of state leaders did not hide their disappointment in pointing out the organizer’s poor understanding of the rituals of the Kaamatan, in particular their failure to invite the Huguan Siou (KDM paramount leader) to join on stage to officiate the ceremony.

The Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture, the organizer of the event, has been held responsible for the ‘insult’ and has been urged to apologize for the seemingly innocent mistake.

Yesterday, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Radin Malleh joined the chorus, saying the ministry had deeply hurt the feelings of the KDM community by ignoring the Huguan Siou, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

“It was not a Kaamatan. The spirit, traditions and the rites were not there. The celebration defeated its own purpose. The organizer has hurt the feelings of the Kadazans, Dusuns and Muruts.

“They forgot the importance of Kaamatan in symbolizing the relationships between the communities and their Huguan Siou,” he said.

Radin, who wanted to be quoted as a Murut leader, said the situation was further aggravated by the arrogance of the organizer, who he pointed until know still displayed a ‘don’t know’ attitude towards the feelings of the KDM.

Their disappointment has fallen on deaf ears, he added.

“The whole community felt humiliated and disrespected when their paramount leader was treated as such. This is indeed against the very purpose of the celebration, which is to promote the 1Malaysia concept,” said Radin, who is also the Melalap assemblyman.

Previously, KDM leaders had said that leaving the paramount leader out of the symbolic launching of the national Kaamatan celebration was very unfortunate and most disgraceful to the community.

They said Pairin should have been given due respect to be among the VIPs invited to perform the symbolic harvest of rice, in accordance with the tradition of Kaamatan and in recognition of his status as the KDM highest leader.

To be fair to the ministry, however, the state government, which had sent its representative to the organizing committee meeting ahead of the event, should have had their say in the planning of the celebration.

Such shortcomings in protocol could have been spotted and avoided, he said.