All articles of culture in Sabah

02Jun

Over 100 teams for dragon boat race

KOTA KINABALU: Over 100 local and international teams are expected to participate in the first Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2014 at Likas Bay on June 7-8. Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin will also grace the occasion on June 8 as the guest of honour. Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) president Dato’ Sri Dr T.C. Goh said 94 teams have confirmed their participation, which exceeded the 75 number of participation in the previous dragon boat race last year. “We expect seven more teams to register. We are confident that our international dragon boat race will exceed 100 teams,” he said in a press conference here yesterday. Of the 94 teams, 13 are international participants who come from Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines and Australia. Asked why there was no participation from China, Goh said it was due to time constraint as the federation was only given two months to organize the event upon its appointment as the race organizer by the State Government in March this year. Nevertheless, he said FCAS would invite dragon boat teams from China to participate in the race next year, which was tentatively set on June 13-14, 2015, subject to confirmation. He said the lack of participation from China was not due to the missing Malaysian Airlines (MAS) flight MH370. In addition, Goh confirmed that the first Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2014 scheduled to be held on June 7-8 this year would take place as announced earlier. He was responding to Sabah Chinese Cultural Association’s (SCCA) statement that the 29th Sabah Dragon Boat Race that was supposed to be held at Likas Bay on June 7-8 this year has been cancelled. In the statement issued on Monday, SCCA apologized for the cancellation of the 29th Sabah Dragon Boat Race, which the association had initiated and organized for the past 28 years since 1986. SCCA said the State Government had proposed to co-organize the dragon boat race with the association in 1990 to promote mutual understanding and tolerance among different races, and the State Government had agreed to bear all expenses. Since then, the event has been co-organized by SCCA, Youth and Sports Ministry and the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry until 2013. According to media reports, the State Cabinet had accepted the proposal by the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry on March 12 this year to appoint FCAS to organize the dragon boat race. SCCA contended that they had not been consulted when FCAS passed a resolution to apply for the organizing rights of the dragon boat race from the State Government on June 30 last year, nor was SCCA informed when the assets of the race, including dragon boats, were handed to FCAS on March 31 this year. In response to this, Goh said the organizer had received a number of calls asking if the dragon boat race has been cancelled. “The first Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2014 on June 7-8 has never been cancelled and we are here to confirm that no less than 100 teams will be participating in the race,” he said. He reiterated that FCAS was appointed by the State Government to organize the dragon boat race and the federation had named the event as the first Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2014. “Those who appointed us also handed us dragon boats, life jackets, paddles as well as gave us full support in terms of financial and manpower,” said Goh. The assets received from Sabah Tourism Board (STB) included 20 units of dragon boats, 20 units of drums, 400 pieces of life jackets, 400 pieces of paddles, 20 pieces of steerer oars, 20 dragon heads, 20 dragon tails and 20 IDBF licences for the dragon boats, all of which amounted to RM684,000. Although the assets were purchased by the State Government, SCCA argued that they ‘belonged’ to the Sabah Dragon Boat Race Committee, and thus should not be handed over to a third party at discretion. To this, Goh said the assets were handed over to the federation by STB but it was not the federation’s responsibility as to where STB obtained the assets. On the safety aspect, Goh assured that all dragon boats, paddles and life jackets were kept by a contractor with licence for ship building. He said FCAS continued to engage the contractor to carry out maintenance on the dragon boats, and thus the boats would meet international requirements. In addition, Goh said six of the 20 dragon boats had been used for training at Gayang and Sutera Harbour Resort daily, and there had been no problem so far. The remaining 14 dragon boats were being painted in preparation for the race. Furthermore, Goh said Datuk Balwant Singh Kler, an internationally certified dragon boat expert, was appointed as the race director to ensure the event complied with international rules and regulations. Meanwhile, organizing chairperson of the dragon boat race, Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, said the response to participation had been very encouraging. Of the 94 participating teams, 21 are all-Chinese teams, including seven teams vying for the FCAS Trophy open to local Chinese community associations under The United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCA) only. “Kinabalu Dragon Trophy (all men teams) has the highest number of participation with 17 teams, while Kinabalu Dragon Trophy (mix teams) has 10 participating teams,” she said. Wong added that the Sabah Head of State and Sabah Chief Minister Trophy have recorded nine and seven participating teams respectively. On the other hand, five teams from Sabah, Singapore, Kuching, Kuala Lumpur and Australia have registered for the Breast Cancer Survivor Race, she said. The first Sabah FCAS International Dragon Boat Race 2014 will kick off with the sportsmen oath taking ceremony at Likas Bay on Saturday, June 7 at 7.30am, followed by heats for various categories. The highlight on June 7 will be the FCAS Trophy for the USCCA mix teams final race at 9am. On Saturday evening, there will be a welcoming dinner for all participants starting at 6pm. The event will be graced by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun. Apart from dragon dance, singing and other dancing performances, there will be a prize presentation ceremony for the winners of the FCAS Trophy for the USCCA mix teams. The programme for Sunday, June 8 starts at 8am with the final race for Kinabalu Dragon Trophy Men’s Open, Kinabalu Dragon Trophy Mix Team, FCAS Trophy for Chinese Mix Teams, Sabah Dragon Trophy for International and Malaysian Mix Teams and Kinabalu Dragon Trophy for Junior Boys under 20. Juhar and his spouse Toh Puan Hajah Norlidah Datuk R.M. Jasni are expected to arrive at 10.15am, after the arrival of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman and Masidi. There will be a 24 Chinese drum performance and zong zi (rice dumpling) offering ceremony to open the event, after which the race continues with the Breast Cancer Survivor Trophy, FCAS Trophy for Chinese Men Teams, Chief Minister Trophy for Malaysian Men Teams and Sabah Head of State Trophy for International and Malaysian Top Teams. Prize presentation ceremony for the winners is expected to commence at noon. Also present at the press conference was FCAS deputy president Datuk Jimmy Yong Kyok Ming. Source: Borneo Post
By Inside KePKASComments Off
Read more...
02Jun

Tourists bask in Kaamatan spirit

PENAMPANG: The warmth and friendliness of Sabah people, the beautiful terrains and its nature, and the uniqueness of its cultural diversity may all sound like words taken directly out of tourism promotional reading materials. But these qualities remain to be the very reasons tourists from across the globe come to the Land Below the Wind and make that decision to visit this multicultural state, and for some, to keep coming back. A visit to the Kaamatan Festival at Hongkod Koisaan KDCA yesterday affirmed that these attributes remain relevant to this day. Australian couple, Kevin, 59, and Linda Jones, 64, have visited Sabah for the fourth time. For them, the hospitality of the people is one of the many reasons that made them keep returning to Sabah for vacations. Having visited many countries, they were pleasantly surprised by the friendliness that Sabah people in particular, showed. “It’s the people,” replied Linda when asked why the couple kept coming back to Sabah. “Other than being welcoming and hospitable, it is also interesting to see the multicultural backgrounds they come from and it is enlightening to learn about people that way,” she added. “Yeah, we have been to Bali, Singapore, Hong Kong and other countries, but it’s better here. We have random people just coming up to us and greet us,” her husband, Kevin, concurred. Although it was their fourth visit to Sabah, it was the couple’s first visit to the mammoth Harvest Festival celebration at Hongkod Koisaaan KDCA. “We heard about this festival when we were on board the cruise ship that took us to Kota Kinabalu. We heard it would be grand but we did not know it would be this big, nor did we expect it to be this interesting,” said Kevin. “It’s always interesting to learn about people of diverse cultures and coming here today to see all those colourful crafts produced by the locals, the traditional costumes, traditional games and dance performances, it just keeps getting better,” noted Linda. Another interesting bit of the Kaamatan Festival for the Jones  was the free entrance. “In Perth, we have the Royal Agricultural Show, which is almost a similar festival but not as cultural as this, where local farmers bring their agricultural produce to showcase and sell. “The better thing about the Harvest Festival here is the fact that you don’t need tickets to enter, compared to the Royal Agricultural Show in Perth. It’s nice that they let people in to have a look around without having to pay for it and only spend money on whatever it is that you want to spend on,” they said. For Japanese couple, Humiyo and Izuo Hayakawa, visiting the grandeur festival on their first ever visit to Sabah also made it easier for them to learn about the state as a whole. “This is our first time here and we find it so interesting that culture can be as vast as this. “Back where we come from in Tokyo, we have the Cherry Blossom or Autumn Festival which is also a very grand celebration. “But this (Kaamatan festival) is even more engaging. To see so many cultures in one place is just so intriguing,” said the Hayakawa couple, when met at the Rungus longhouse at the KDCA grounds while they were trying to play a Rungus traditional game called ‘inuogdazang’. May 30 and 31 mark the climax of the month-long Kaamatan Festival which culminates at the Hongkod Koisaan KDCA grounds. This time of the year would mean massive traffic congestion as vehicles are parked miles-long along the sides of the road leading to Hongkod Koisaan, as locals from various districts flock the grounds to take part in numerous activities. Whether it’s to take part in the traditional sports and games, watch and learn from cultural demonstrations, dance performances, or simply to visit stalls selling and promoting various products from foods, clothing, handicrafts, and many others, it is always a time for Sabahans from all over to gather and celebrate the Kaamatan festival in unison Source: Borneo Post
By Inside KePKAS, Comments Off
Read more...
02Jun

KK’s Cheryl is the Kaamatan Queen

Kota Kinabalu: The Unduk Ngadau representing Kota Kinabalu, Cheryl Lynn Pinsius, beat 41 other contestants from various districts in Sabah to be adjudged the new State-level Kaamatan Queen 2014, Saturday. She received RM6,000, trophy, a tiara worth RM20,000 by Diamoney Jewellery Sdn Bhd, a smartphone worth RM2,000, bouquet of flowers worth RM200, scholarships from ATI College and Binary University worth RM25, 000 each, personalised bracelet, ring and earrings worth RM8,000, one year reload of RM200 per month worth RM2,400, hampers sponsored by Giant and Nestle each worth RM200 and RM150 followed by other goodies from Toh Puan Norlidah Datuk RM Jasni, wife of the Head of State. Second place was won by Kota Marudu's Scarlett Megan Liew Zi Ling followed by Johor representative, Liz Lorena Rayner. Fourth place was won by representative from Putatan, Samantha Sharon C.E.Laujang. In Fifth place was Tuaran representative, Hemy Manjadi, followed by Papar district's, Debbie Colette Christopher while seventh by Klang Valley representative, Maylesthelyn Matius. Pinsius could not believe when told she won. "However, I am happy and grateful to be able to win," she said, adding that she was able to gain more confidence and get to know new friends throughout the competition. Pinsius who participated in the competition for the third time also said she would accept the study scholarship at ATI College despite having other choice to pursue her studies at Binary University. "This is to allow me to promote more actively in terms of Sabah tourism," she said, adding that she is proud to be able to defend the crown for Kota Kinabalu. The State-level Kaamatan Queen 2013 was also won by Kota Kinabalu representative, Immaculate Lojuki. Pinsius, originally from Kg Bantayan, Inanam and the youngest among four siblings also advised future interested candidates to do their best, have more confidence, smile and never express their stress. In the past, Pinsius emerged top 15 representing Inanam in 2011 and later as the KKIP Unduk Ngadau Beauty Queen title in 2012. She is currently working as a clerk at a music store at Karamunsing Capital and enjoys watching English dramas in order to improve her English Language. She also said that her sister who used to represent in Inanam in 2001 had also managed to be among the top five in the State-level Kaamatan Queen Competition 2001. On the other hand, Miss Popular was won by Lahad Datu representative, Solius Ingrid Gangkangon. She received a sash worth RM1,000, a crystal tiara, a smart phone, cash prize worth RM5,000, RM200 reload per month and other goodies from ALTEL Communication SDdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Yaacob. Source : Daily Express
By Inside KePKAS, Comments Off
Read more...
29May

State Level Teacher’s Day celebration

DSC_3951 YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun who is also the State Education Exco attended the 2014 State Level Teacher's Day Celebration at the Tawau Community Hall, officiated by YAB Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman, Chief Minister of Sabah on the 27th of May 2014. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun merangkap Exco Pelajaran Negeri Sabah menghadiri perayaan Hari Guru 2014 Peringkat Negeri Sabah bertempat di Dewan Masyarakat Tawau yang telah disempurnakan oleh YAB Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman, Ketua Menteri Sabah pada 27 Mei 2014.
By Minister on the moveComments Off
Read more...
26May

USDA Harvest Festival

USDA Harvest Festival   YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun who represented YAB Chief Minister of Sabah at the 2014 USDA Harvest Festival celebration at the Ranau Community Hall on the 24th of May 2014. Also present during the event were YB Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation as well as the President of the USDA Sabah. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun mewakili YAB Ketua Menteri Sabah dalam perayaan Pesta Menuai USDA 2014 bertempat di Dewan Masyarakat Ranau pada 24 Mei 2014. Turut hadir dalam acara tersebut adalah YB Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin, Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi dan juga Presiden USDA Sabah. 
By Minister on the moveComments Off
Read more...