By Chok Sim Yee | The Borneo Post

KOTA KINABALU: Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) is one of the highlights in the Sabah annual calendar of events, but sadly, not much effort has been made to promote the cultural event, even at the main gateways to the state — the airports.

At least this was what Democratic Action Party (DAP) advisor Lim Kit Siang noticed when he arrived yesterday.

Claiming that there was not much effort done by the federal government to recognise and promote Pesta Kaamatan, he said this defeats the whole meaning of the 1Malaysia concept, which was the brainchild of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Pesta Kaamatan is the most important celebration in Sabah but sadly, I do not see any Pesta Kaamatan-related decorations when I arrived at the airport,” he said, pointing out that it was the best place to promote the event as it is the first place to welcome incoming tourists, be it domestic or foreign.

He also questioned why Najib could not even spare some time to attend such an important programme.

“If the Prime Minister could go to the Sibu by-election for three to four
times, then he should be able to join in the Kaamatan celebration with the KadazanDusuns and Muruts in Sabah, and later with the Dayaks for the Gawai in Sarawak. He was the one who suggested the 1Malaysia concept, so practise it.

“He should walk the talk and show he placed importance on the celebrations of all races,” he stressed.

He later attended the closing of the State-Level Pesta Kaamatan at the Hongkod Koisaan Building in Penampang, yesterday.

Lim was also seeking clarification from Najib on whether his cabinet ministers are putting the “Malaysian people” first, or their own race as priority.

In another development, Lim said the recent Sibu by-election result showed that the Barisan Nasional (BN) had lost its grip on the fixed-deposit states, and that the parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak would be open for a fair competition between Pakatan Rakyat and the BN.

He pointed out that the by-election had sent a clear message that the BN Government could not provide a fair treatment and failed to fulfil the people’s demands in East Malaysia.

Hence, Lim revealed that he would bring the matter up with the Prime Minister in the Parliament sitting next week on whether the government will be setting up a Royal Inquiry Committee to determine whether Sabah and Sarawak received a fair treatment and development ever since both states and Malaya formed Malaysia in 1963.

“I will ask the Prime Minister to list the number of allocations and types of allocation given to Sabah and Sarawak from 1963 till present.”

He added that he would also raise the issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah during the Parliament sitting as well as the reason why Malaysia surrendered the claim over Block L and Block M in Limbang to Brunei.

Lim also spoke on the Malay Consultative Council (Perkasa), which he claimed is disrespectful to the Agong by slamming the New Economic Model at the Bumiputra Economic Congress.

He said the Agong had described Najib’s NEM as revolutionary and had the potential to develop the country, thus urging for the people’s blessing towards the NEM.

“However, Perkasa which heads the congress criticised NEM, showing their disrespect to the Agong.”