TAMBUNAN: Kadazandusun Murut Cultural Association (KDCA) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the arts and culture of the Kadazandusun and Murut (KDM) communities should be maintained and upheld by the communities.
He said language and cultural identity of the people showed the ethnicity of the race and in this regard, the KDM cultures need to be preserved, developed and presented to the young people of today and the future.
“We do not want our culture to disappear and if this were to happen then we will lose our identity as a KDM race,” Pairin said when officiating the district level Kaamatan Festival at Pisompuruan Square here on Saturday.
Pairin, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, said the KDCA is an association representing the KDM community in this state. The KDCA, he said, as the heart of the KDM becomes the umbrella in safeguarding the arts and culture of the community in all aspects of life, including from the time of their ancestors to this day.
“KDCA fought for the rights of this community, particularly in safeguarding KDM cultures such as its customs and taboos, language, cultural traditions such as dance, music, food, drinks, medicine and others as handed down by our ancestors long ago,” he said.
Pairin added the KDCA is also moving towards transformation that would diversify the cultural aspects of life, including raising the living standards of the people in the fields of social, economy, education, politics and culture.
Looking at the achievements these days, he said there had been many successes achieved by KDCA in developing this community in these fields.
“I believe that fighting for the cause of the KDM language has already shown positive results as the language is now one of the subjects taught in primary and secondary schools and helped in the creation of the Community College in Tambunan district.
“What I hope is that the KDM community, especially the youths, would not be misled by the creation of another non-governmental organisation seemingly wanting to fight for the fate and future of this community in the state.
“KDCA as a non-political body, of course, has safeguarded the culture and welfare of the KDM community in the state based on its original struggles and has been more open with its members, irrespective of their political affiliation and creed as long as the person is an ethnic KDM,” he said.
Over 3,000 people attended the event, including Puan Sri Genevieve Kitingan, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili, Political Secretary to the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Daniel Kinsik, Political Secretary to the Infrastructure Development Ministry, Welfredoline Jakil, and District Officer Thomas Lojigin.