KENINGAU: The state-level Kalimaran Festival will be held at the Sabah Murut Cultural Centre in Kampung Pulong, Tenom in July.
Sabah Murut Association (PMS) president Datuk Rubin Balang said the festival held over the past ten years will highlight the various customs and culture of the Murut communities in the state.
“The festival aims to unite Muruts so that we can elevate and showcase our customs and culture to the present and future generations,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after officiating the district-level Kalimaran Festival at Kampung Limbawan here on Saturday, he said the customs and culture of the society inherited from their ancestors will continue to be maintained.
Rubin, who is also Kemabong assemblyman, said that PMS had been teaching the Murut language as the mother tongue of the Murut ethnic group in the state over the past few years.
“PMS and Murut communities thank the federal government for giving special provisions to the Murut Language Teaching Bureau headed by Senator Datuk Dr Lucas Umbul who has pioneered the teaching of native language in this community.
“The state government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman has also allocated sufficient funds to organize this festival at the state level to be held at Sabah Cultural Murut Center at Kampong Pulong Tenom where the Sabah Cultural Board and PMS are jointly organizing this celebration,” he said.
Rubin said a total of RM300,000 will be allocated for financing the festival at the state level this year.
He said for the past three years from 2015 until this year, PMS had organized this festival at the district level where Murut tribes live in this state.
He said the RM20,000 provision to cover the cost of the district level festival is a special provision of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak.
“The Murut communities and PMS express our appreciation and gratitude to the Prime Minister for giving the special provisions for organizing this festival in every district in the state.
“We hope that the Murut communities at other districts in this state could be elevated and showcase their unique culture so that in the state festival they can be highlighted and become a cultural treasure besides helping the government to highlight tourism products as attractions for tourists coming to this state,” he said.
Present were Assistant Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, Datuk Haji Sairin Karno, Assistant Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Bobbey Ahfang Suan, Senator Datuk Dr Lucas Umbul, PMS Vice President Datuk Kadoh Agundong, former Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Suffian Koroh and veteran politician Tan Sri RM Jasni.