KOTA KINABALU: The Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) of Putrajaya aims to set up a cooperative to help Sabahans, and Datuk Ewon Benedick is all for it.
The Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives Minister said this initiative would empower not only those living in Sabah but also outside the state.
“I support this initiative and will help by asking the Malaysia Cooperatives Commission to expedite KDCA Putrajaya’s application,” he said when officiating the KDCA Putrajaya Kaamatan Festival in Putrajaya on Sunday (May 4).
He added that this effort can help boost the economy of Sabahan natives through entrepreneurship and cooperatives.
On the Kaamatan event, he said such programmes bridge relations and forge unity regardless of race and religion.
He hoped the Kadazandusun Murut or momogun (native and indigenous communities) in Sabah will continue to hold programmes that empower and bring benefit to the community economically and socially.
“I hope festivals such as this can be held yearly, and that we can be the ambassadors of peace and unity in this country,” he added.
He said Kaamatan is not only celebrated in Sabah, but has expanded to other parts of the country and outside Malaysia as well.
The Malaysian Embassy in Vatican City, he said, is also planning a Kaamatan-Gawai (Sarawak’s harvest festival) event at the end of this month, as it has been observing both celebrations for years.
Ewon called upon all Malaysians to celebrate each other’s festivities and join hands to help one another develop and succeed in their chosen fields.
At the Putrajaya event, Emelka Ryner was named KDCA Putrajaya Unduk Ngadau while Wendey Merrylen and Rachel Justin came in second and third respectively.
Emelka will be vying for the state Unduk Ngadau title at the Hongkod Koisaan Hall in KDCA Penampang on May 30 and 31.
