PM Anwar Scheduled To Officiate Kaamatan Festival 2026 This Saturday

KOTA KINABALU, May 26 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate the Sabah State-Level Kaamatan Festival 2026 at Hongkod Koisaan, the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) in Penampang this Saturday (May 30).

Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, who is also chairman of the Sabah State-Level Kaamatan Festival 2026 Main Organising Committee, said the Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive in the morning and is expected to participate in a symbolic paddy harvesting ceremony.

He said Anwar, together with Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and other dignitaries, is also scheduled to visit the traditional houses located at the Koisaan Cultural Village, KDCA, in addition to mingling with visitors attending the festival.

“The official closing ceremony of the festival will be officiated by Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman on May 31 (Sunday),” he told a press conference in conjunction with the Sabah State-Level Kaamatan Festival 2026 celebration here today.

The Kaamatan Festival is a harvest festival celebrated enthusiastically by communities in Sabah as a sign of gratitude for a bountiful rice harvest, and is observed throughout May with the highlight celebrations held annually on May 30 and 31.

Dr Joachim said there is no official target for visitor numbers, but organisers are expecting tens of thousands of visitors during the two-day peak celebration, while also recording encouraging interest and demand from international tourists and foreign delegations.

“This proves that the Kaamatan Festival is not only a source of pride for the people of Sabah, but is also increasingly gaining attention nationally and internationally as one of Malaysia’s major and vibrant cultural festivals,” he said.

He said that to facilitate movement and reduce traffic congestion, free shuttle bus services from Imago and Suria shopping malls here to Hongkod Koisaan, KDCA, will be provided from 10 am to 10 pm.

“The public are advised to plan their journeys and are encouraged to use these shuttle bus services. In addition, I advise everyone celebrating the Kaamatan Festival to exercise self-control and maintain proper conduct because we are all ‘ambassadors’ representing Sabah during this celebration in the eyes of outsiders,” he said.

According to him, this year’s Kaamatan Festival peak celebration is set to create its own history when KDCA is scheduled to receive recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records for the first time.

“The prestigious recognition is awarded in acknowledgement of the festival being the longest-running festival celebration in Malaysia,” he said.

-- BERNAMA