Showing support: Hajiji (second from left) accompanied by Rubin (left) posing with a Murut warrior at the launch of the Kalimaran festival yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s interior Tenom district has received a boost after the state government approved a RM2mil allocation for upgrading works for its Sabah Murut Cultural Centre.
These funds were meant to further optimise the tourism attractions in Tenom, which is widely considered as home to the Muruts, the third largest indigenous group in Sabah.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the upgrading works involved three main components – the construction of a tree house, grave replica and “House of Skulls”.
“The project will add more tourist attractions at the Sabah Murut Cultural Centre and further represents the Murut community’s tradition and culture,” he said when launching the Kalimaran festival at the cultural centre here yesterday.
The state government, he said, appreciated the importance of various ethnic cultures and arts-based celebrations such as the Kalimaran festival, which is an annual cultural celebration for the Murut community.
“It will go a long way to assist in the promotion, preservation and uplifting of the culture and arts of the various ethnic groups in Sabah.”
Hajiji added that the Kalimaran festival has further potential to showcase the richness and uniqueness of the Murut community’s culture, arts and tradition to the whole country and beyond.
“While Sabah is already well known as an ecotourism destination, cultural tourism must also be given priority.
“The diversity and uniqueness of the tradition as well as cultural arts of the 35 ethnic and 217 sub-ethnic groups in Sabah are a strength that can be capitalised in our culture tourism,” he stressed.
Towards this end, he said the state has underlined seven priorities – digitalisation of the cultural arts or eCulture; integrated culture tourism; culture preservation; strengthening ethnic relations; research and documenting culture; cultural arts propagation; and culture intellectual property protection.
These priorities are in line with the initiative contained in the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan under the purview of the Sabah Cultural Board.
Also present yesterday were Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Elron Angin Alfred, state secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong, Kalimaran festival main organising chairman and Kemabong assemblyman Datuk Rubin Balang, assistant ministers, elected representatives and local community leaders.
