PETALING JAYA: While many Sabahans and Sarawakians travel home for Kaamatan and Hari Gawai, some have decided to spend this festive season in Peninsular Malaysia due to rising travel costs or personal reasons.
Many now mark the festivities through video calls or by attending local church gatherings and smaller celebrations with friends and relatives here.
Technician Chunky Pius Banyim, 31, said he has gotten used to spending Gawai away from Sarawak since starting a family here.
“Back when I was young and single, I loved travelling back to Sarawak for the festival to see my old friends, meet my family and celebrate together, just like Hari Raya.
“But it’s not very financially feasible anymore once you have a family.
“I have to buy tickets not just for my wife but also for my two daughters, which can cost up to RM3,000 per head for a return trip,” he said.
He added that while he feels sad at not being able to meet his parents, he still keeps in touch with family in Sarawak through video calls during Gawai.
Factory supervisor Marfina Musa, 39, from Tenom, Sabah, said she now feels more comfortable celebrating Kaamatan here after being away from home for six years.
“While I do feel guilty about not travelling home to Sabah to see my family every Kaamatan, I have grown accustomed to celebrating it with some family members or friends here, so it doesn’t feel lonely.”
She said she still video calls her family in Sabah every Kaamatan.
Nurse Veronica Matthew, 25, also from Tenom, has only flown home to Sabah for Kaamatan once in the past five years owing to her work schedule and high airfare costs.
“I usually work long, odd hours especially during festive periods when other people are on holiday.
“It is a sacrifice I have to make in my line of work,” she said.
She added that she misses spending time with family during festive periods, especially the trip to Kota Kinabalu to witness the Unduk Ngadau pageant and other cultural celebrations.
She now celebrates by going to church with fellow Sabahans who are unable to travel back home.
Meanwhile, videographer and video editor Mohd Erwan Nizam, 25, said work commitments have taken priority over travelling home to Kudat, Sabah.
He said this holiday period is usually when he is busy with wedding assignments and convocation-related projects.
“I do feel lonely, especially since I don’t know any fellow Sabahan friends here to celebrate with, but I have decided to at least gain invaluable work experience during the holidays.”
Translator Eleazar Lejau Philip, 26, from Miri, Sarawak, said flying home for Gawai has grown less appealing over the years.
“Travelling back for Gawai was something I did only occasionally every few years, so I decided it’s best not to go back this year due to expensive travel fares,” he added.
