Fadillah extends Kaamatan Festival greetings, urges Malaysians to preserve harmony
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has called on the people to continue to defend Malaysia's harmony in diversity, strengthen the ties of brotherhood and preserve unity.
He said this when wishing a Happy Kaamatan Festival to the entire Kadazan Dusun, Murut and Rungus community, particularly in Sabah, who are celebrating this harvest festival on May 30 and 31.
He added that just like other festivals, the Kaamatan Festival is a manifestation of the racial diversity and cultural richness of the community in Malaysia, who live in peace and harmony regardless of racial, religious and cultural background.
"With its theme of 'Kaamatan For All' let's celebrate the Kaamatan Festival with joy, strengthen ties of kinship and be grateful for the sustenance and good harvest.
"May our harvest this year and the years to come continue to overflow, bringing with it goodness, success and prosperity to all.
"Happy Kaamatan Festival, Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan," Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, posted on Facebook today.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi also took to Facebook to extend the same greetings, saying he hopes that this festive season brings overflowing cheerfulness, love and sustenance to everyone.
"Happy Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day to all friends and families in Sabah and Sarawak.
"Both these festivals illustrate the richness of culture, customs and traditions and are symbols of harmony in the diversity of the people of Malaysia.
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Malaysia garnered over RM8bil in potential investments at Expo 2025 Osaka, says Fadillah
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"So together, we reaffirm Malaysia's role as a trusted global partner in shaping a future built on innovation and collaboration," he said at the press conference after officiating the opening ceremony of the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan, on Saturday (May 31). Also present at the official opening ceremony were Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan Datuk Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany and Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. In addition to the digital economy, Fadillah highlighted the green economy, Japanese technologies and global participation in Expo 2025 as key opportunities for Malaysia to explore. He noted that these opportunities position Sarawak not only as a hub for energy, particularly green energy, leveraging its hydropower resources, but also as a central player in Malaysia's Hydrogen Economy Roadmap and Energy Transition Roadmap. Regarding the signing of the 20 MOU, Fadillah said the Malaysian Pavilion has facilitated several high-impact MOU and strategic partnerships that reflect the country's forward-looking approach to regional collaboration, sustainable development and technological advancement. "This agreement has covered a wide range of sectors, including renewable energy, digital, property services, biotechnology, caregiving innovation and infrastructure development. "The key focus areas have included efforts to support decarbonisation, advance green hydrogen solutions, strengthen dementia care capabilities and promote smart facility systems and sustainable materials," he explained. Collectively, the partnerships underscored the Malaysia Pavilion's role as a hub for generating tangible economic outcomes, also encouraging cross-border knowledge sharing and reinforcing Malaysia's position as a regional leader in clean technology, inclusive innovation and future-ready industries, said Fadillah. 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Borneo Post
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Her body was laid into the earth, from which the first rice emerged, sustaining countless generations. This ultimate sacrifice, commemorated yearly during Kaamatan through ceremonies like the Magavau, transcends a mere story of sorrow; it stands as a powerful testament to the strength of unity and the profound connection between individuals and their community. The Unduk Ngadau, or harvest queen, chosen during the festival, personifies Huminodun's purity, wisdom, and grace. Her symbolic role reminds the community that leadership must serve the greater good. Yet, in today's political landscape, this sacred covenant appears forgotten. How has a people united by the legacy of a heroine who gave her life for unity allowed themselves to splinter into factions that seem to thrive on division? Sabah's political sphere has become increasingly fragmented, with multiple parties — UPKO, PBS, PBRS, STAR, among others — jostling for influence under the banner of Kadazandusun rights. Despite their common cause, internal rivalries, shifting alliances, and competing agendas have weakened their collective voice. This political disunity has led to tangible consequences. Native land rights, enshrined in law, are routinely undermined by external interests, yet without a united political front, enforcement remains elusive. Economically, many rural Kadazandusun communities continue to face hardship, trapped in cycles of poverty and underdevelopment, while disjointed leadership fails to marshal coordinated advocacy. The cultural cost is no less grave. A 2017 Borneo Post Online article, 'The Kadazandusun language dilemma,' highlighted that many district youth under thirty struggled to speak Kadazan. This aligns with a 2005 UNESCO report deeming Kadazandusun endangered, a critical indicator that the culture risks disappearing without targeted efforts. This is not the legacy Huminodun died to bequeath. Her act was a call to unity, not a license for petty squabbles. Kaamatan, at its core, has always been more than a celebration of harvest — it is a time of renewal, of reconciling differences, sharing abundance, and reaffirming kinship. In the past, rituals led by the bobohizan or bombolian were not only spiritual acts but mechanisms for healing and consensus. Elders resolved conflicts, families shared the first rice harvest, and the community danced the sumazau in harmonious rhythm, reflecting a society at peace with itself. Today, Kaamatan risks becoming a hollow shell — reduced to pageantry and performance, stripped of its deeper meaning — unless its essence is reclaimed. Imagine if political leaders, instead of trading barbs, genuinely shared tapai under the roof of Hongkod Koisaan, pledging collaboration over competition. Picture the unveiling of a unified agenda for the Kadazandusun people — rooted in land protection, cultural preservation and educational reform — delivered not in separate party platforms, but as a collective vision. Envision young people and women — torchbearers of Huminodun's spirit — leading campaigns that transcend partisan lines, igniting hope in both village halls and digital spaces. The image of Kadazandusun leaders joining in the sumazau, moving in unison like the intertwined roots of the rice plant, could become a powerful living symbol of Misompuru — not just a concept, but a call to action. Around the world, indigenous peoples have found strength in solidarity. The Māori of New Zealand, by uniting under the framework of the Treaty of Waitangi, secured not only land reparations but a firm voice in parliament. In the United States, the Navajo Nation, despite its internal diversity, consolidated political power to protect its resources and secure federal support. These examples show that unity is not a surrender of identity; it is a strategy for survival and growth. The Kadazandusun, with their profound cultural heritage, could likewise wield greater influence through cooperation and shared purpose. Perhaps, like the Māori Kingitanga, a central movement rooted in cultural pride and political coordination could emerge. To make Misompuru a reality, several key steps are needed. The formation of a Kadazandusun Political Council — serving as a neutral platform akin to the bobohizan's role as mediator — could help align party priorities and push for crucial legislation, from protecting Native Customary Rights (NCR) land to intensifying Kadazandusun-language education and developing sustainable rural economies. Grassroots initiatives should accompany this political reawakening. A 'Tumahui do Huminodun' campaign could mobilize youth around the symbolism of her sacrifice, linking tradition to activism through art, dialogue, and community action. Even simple efforts, such as rival politicians co-hosting Kaamatan activities or jointly planting rice, can plant seeds of trust and solidarity. As the gongs echo and the scent of hinava drifts through the air, this Kaamatan, the Kadazandusun are called to make a choice. Will they continue down a path of fragmentation, or rise together as people bound by the same moon that once witnessed their ancestors dance in unity? Huminodun's story is not merely a legend to be admired; it is a roadmap waiting to be followed. Just as her body became the rice that sustained a people, today's leaders must transform their ambitions into nourishment for the collective good. This moment goes beyond politics. It is about safeguarding a heritage — the terraced paddies, the chants of the bobohizan, the laughter of children speaking the language of their forebears. It is about honoring the spirits of those who came before by securing a dignified future for those yet to come. Let this Kaamatan mark a new beginning. Let it prove that Misompuru is not a forgotten dream but a living, breathing force. For as the proverb reminds us: 'Ounsik do Huminodun, ounsik do Kaamatan.' Without Huminodun, there is no harvest. And without unity, there is no future. Nokoturu ti Huminodun, moginum ti tapai do Misompuru (Follow Huminodun's path, and drink the rice wine of unity.)
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Spirit of togetherness must remain our strength
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