Hari Sabah being marked in several districts: DCM
Published on: Tue, Aug 19, 2025
By: Diana Liu Text Size: Jeffrey receiving a souvenir from Madiyem. PITAS: The celebration of Hari Sabah continues to gain momentum since it was officially gazetted three years ago, with growing awareness among communities, especially in rural areas said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. Speaking at a press conference in conjunction with the Hari Sabah 2025 district-level celebration held at Tamu Kanibongan, last Sunday, he said the event was first marked in Tambunan before moving to Padang Merdeka in Kota Kinabalu last year, where it was celebrated on a larger scale for the first time.
Advertisement The celebration in Pitas saw more than 2,000 people in attendance, where each received a 5kg bag of rice and stood a chance to win lucky draw prizes. Traditional dance performances and karaoke sessions were also held. 'This year, apart from Padang Merdeka, Hari Sabah is also being celebrated in several districts, including Pitas, Keningau, Sandakan, Kota Marudu and Tuaran,' he said. Jeffrey noted that understanding of Sabah's history has improved, reflected in how people now embrace the State flag compared to the past. 'In the early years, when we distributed the Sabah flag, many people did not know what it was. Now, everyone wants one. This shows that awareness is growing, though more still needs to be done,' he said. Also present were Assistant Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation who is also State representative for Pitas Datuk Ruddy Awah, Sabah Padi and Rice Board (LPBS) General Manager Datuk Madiyem Layapan, Assistant District Officer Jasri, and others. Meanwhile, in conjunction with the event, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry through Ko-Nelayan channelled RM169,400 in financial assistance under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) initiative to fishing communities in Kudat, Pitas, Kota Marudu and Banggi Island. Jeffrey said the programme, part of the 12th Malaysia Plan, aims to raise income and socio-economic status of fishermen and fisheries entrepreneurs through schemes such as i-Nelayan for boats and fishing gear, i-Hiliran for downstream product processing, and i-Aquaculture for expanding farming ventures. In total, 19 recipients from the Kudat region benefited under the Income Enhancement Programme, while one participant received aid from the Natural Disaster Welfare Fund. Jeffrey also approved Ruddy's appeal to include Pitas as the seventh district under the LPBS during the event, joining Kota Belud, Kota Marudu, Tuaran, Papar, Keningau and Tenom. Ruddy said Pitas has more than 3,000 hectares of suitable paddy land, mainly in Bengkoka, which could boost Sabah's rice output within the next few years. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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