TAMBUNAN: The spirit of unity and preservation of cultural heritage continued to be strengthened among the local community through the official opening ceremony of the 2026 Kaamatan Festival in Tambunan, which was celebrated in a lively and harmonious atmosphere.
The grand celebration, held recently, attracted about 3,000 visitors comprising local residents and people from surrounding areas, who flocked to the festival grounds to witness the uniqueness of the district’s cultural traditions.
PGRS Tambunan Division Chief and Deputy Chairman of Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd and Borneo Samudera Sdn Bhd, Dato Victor Peter Paut, said the event, which highlighted the rich customs, culture and unique identity of the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) community, was not merely a traditional celebration but also a symbol of gratitude for the harvest and appreciation for heritage passed down through generations.
He said this year’s Kaamatan theme was especially meaningful in encouraging the community to further strengthen unity, preserve cultural traditions and work together towards building a harmonious and progressive society.
Victor also stressed the importance of exposing the younger generation to history, customs and cultural heritage to ensure such identity is not lost amid rapid development and modernisation.
He said the active participation of the community in preserving traditional cultural elements such as the Sumazau dance, Sugandoi singing competition, traditional attire, ethnic food and various traditional games was something to be proud of and must continue to be safeguarded for future generations.
Apart from serving as a platform to showcase cultural arts, he noted that the Kaamatan Festival has also proven successful in generating the local economy, particularly benefiting small traders, local entrepreneurs, handicraft operators and those involved in the traditional food industry.
“With Tambunan’s great potential, including its natural beauty and hardworking community, the district is capable of progressing further and becoming more widely recognised at the state and international levels through economic growth, education, tourism and youth development,” he said.
Victor also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the organising committee, contributors, sponsors and the people of Tambunan for their strong commitment, patience and sacrifices in ensuring the success of the programme through the spirit of gotong-royong.
The ceremony concluded with Victor officially declaring the festival open, followed by the greeting: “Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan.”
Among those present were General Manager Administration and Sawit Kinabalu Sandakan Industrial Park Judith Ignatius Otou; PGRS Bingkor Division Chief Datuk Jasrie Nasip; and PGRS Matunggung Division Chief Datuk Barlus Magambis.
The district’s administration and security sectors were represented by Tambunan District Officer Mohd Azri Jaini Jefrey; Tambunan District Education Officer Johari Awang Damit; Tambunan Police Station Chief Thedius Ungoh; Tambunan District Council Executive Officer Rizal Maulah; Tambunan Rela Officer Yuspin Linggang; and CDO UPPM Tambunan Dr Rocky Jerome Budin.
Also present were PBS Tambunan Deputy Division Chief Silverius Bruno; PGRS Telupid Division Chief Pinus Gondili; and PGRS N.39 Tambunan Deputy Division Chief Mohd Yassin.
The opening ceremony was also witnessed by members of the PGRS Tambunan Division committee, representatives from PGRS Liawan and Bingkor, representatives of GRS component parties, sponsors, judges of the Unduk Ngadau and Sugandoi competitions, as well as invited guests who joined in celebrating the success of this year’s festival.
