KOTA KINABALU: The Harvest Festival which is associated with giving thanks for a bountiful rive harvest, has contributed to strengthening friendship among the various indigenous and ethnic groups in Sabah, including those who now live in other parts of Malaysia and abroad.
Although the planting of paddy is no longer a major agricultural practice, this festival is still an integral part of the local culture and communities here respect and celebrate it as a mark of gratitude.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman stated this in his message in conjunction with the Harvest Festival celebration.
Commonly known as Tadau Kaamatan or Pesta Kaamatan, this festival officially held on May 30 and 31 each year reflects how communities in Sabah have continued to uphold a traditional celebration which has its roots in beliefs passed down through generations, he said.
Over the decades, Musa said Sabah had experienced growth and progress in terms of infrastructure and today also has more bustling urban centres. Locals now have better access to education and training opportunities, contributing to the state through their chosen fields.
“This, combined with the fact that we are a melting pot of more than 30 ethnic groups, give us a competitive advantage within Malaysia and the region. Our steadfastness in staying united and our commitment to work together encourage us to learn from one another and are positive factors in our quest to achieve more progress for Sabah,” he pointed out.
Musa stressed that the unity that we enjoy in Sabah is an example for Malaysia. However, to keep our ties strong, we cannot allow the sowing of hatred among the people. There are attempts by those who do not subscribe to the concept of unity and harmony to damage ties among people of various backgrounds not only in Malaysia, but also in Sabah.
“I call on Malaysians in Sabah to not succumb to such thinking. Calls by certain quarters for Sabah to leave the Malaysian federation are irresponsible and will only lead to dividing the people both in Sabah and Malaysia. We should work towards closing ranks and standing firm with Malaysia,” he said.
According to the Chief Minister, Sabah is on track in achieving the various development projects that we are committed to, as outlined in the State Development Agenda or Halatuju that my administration introduced over a decade ago, with a focus on agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. The Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) launched in 2008 has further strengthened our quest to focus on the three areas outlined by the State Development Agenda.
“We are also participating actively in the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and the Malaysia Plans, as a way to bring holistic and meaningful progress to the people of Sabah, regardless of where they live.
Sabah is a large state making it necessary to close the gap between regions, especially those that are located in the interior. We continue to focus on poverty eradication programmes and we are committed as well to ensuring that more school leavers get the opportunity to study at a higher level, including at skills centres. Our emphasis on growing the downstream sector of oil and gas, and also palm oil, requires us to have skilled and knowledgeable locals to fill positions to drive our economy to the next level,” he said.
“Younger people who are innovative, creative and who are willing to take well calculated risks have the advantage of serving whatever gaps that exist in growing our economy. I call on youths in Sabah to explore opportunities available to them to help us in turning the state into a vibrant region within Malaysia and Southeast Asia. I also wish to take this opportunity to touch on the need for everyone to come together and work hard for Sabahs progress, and to refrain from politicking. Let us focus our energies on improving standards of living for all.”
To ensure that we can successfully carry out our plans and policies, security is a matter of priority, said the Chief Minister.
He said the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) are here to ensure citizens and visitors feel safe while in Sabah.
“We acknowledge that tourism and investor confidence are impacted whenever there is a breach of security. The Sabah Government is working closely with the Federal Government to ensure that there are sufficient assets to maintain sovereignty and to avoid untoward incidents from taking place,” said Musa who also repeated his call to employers to stop hiring undocumented workers as this increases security risks.
“Let us work together in making Sabah a better place for all. Let us also acknowledge the sacrifices made by our forefathers in times of war and difficulty, and refrain from engaging in discourse that will threaten unity in a diverse society,” he said.