KOTA MARUDU: Cultural identity is central to the celebration of 1Malaysia, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.
Thus, he said mutual respect, preservation and appreciation of the various cultures practised by the communities in Malaysia were pertinent in maintaining unity in the country.
Dr Ongkili, who is also Kota Marudu member of parliament, said that every community must love, preserve and develop their own cultures while also respecting and appreciating other cultures.
“There must be mutual appreciation of each other’s ethnic background, religious beliefs and language or dialects so that we can truly celebrate the practice of 1Malaysia,” he said when launching the Kota Marudu district Kaamatan Festival at the community hall here.
He also said that the role of cultural associations was recognised in preserving and developing cultures.
“Having associations such as the Kadazandusun Cultural Association is a good approach to ensure you progress alongside other races,” he said.
However, the cultural development must go together with economic development, he said, adding that economic progress was a task that must be jointly shouldered by the government and the people themselves.
“The government provides the infrastructure but the people must respond and innovate to ensure that the infrastructure is fully and correctly utilised. This includes the role of the various implementing agencies,” he said.
In this area, Maximus said Kota Marudu had a potential to become a model as its people had a diverse culture while development of infrastructure, including commercial, was taking place.
However, the people must not forget that education was key to all development as it is a powerful weapon.
“With education we can achieve development in life whether personal, for our families, our community and country,’ he said.
“With our hardwork and persistence, the government has recently agreed to allocate funds to enable SMK Bandau and SMK Langkon, which are squatting at other schools, to finally have their own buildings. The groundbreaking ceremony of SMK Bandau will ensue soon while SMK Langkon is undergoing tender process,” he said.
The district-level Kaamatan Festival included exhibitions featuring government and private sectors booths, food and sport activities, at the field adjacent to the hall.
A Malaysia Book of Records feat was also set when various ethnic cultural dances performed for 12 hours non-stop.