KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will hold Kaamatan Festival this year after the much-anticipated cultural celebration among the indigenous community was halted last year due to Covid-19.
The festival, which kicks off on May 1, will however be carried out behind closed doors in accordance with the Health Ministry's strict standard operating procedure (SOP).
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the state cabinet had agreed for Kaamatan to take place and for celebrations to be held in Hongkod Koisaan, Penampang.
"However, there will be no open house and attendance will be limited to 50 people or 30 per cent of the venue's capacity, whichever is lower.
"In keeping with this year's theme of 'A Borderless Kaamatan for Peace and Reconciliation', we will stick to our initial plan of holding the celebration online," he said in a statement.
Kitingan, who chairs the Kaamatan main organising committee, said the celebration at the district levels would also adhere to the SOP in terms of the number of people allowed to congregate.
Nonetheless, he said the public would not be left out as they can view all of the programmes online. He said the public may also participate in many online events, such as games held online.
Kitingan is scheduled to launch the Kaamatan month celebration on May 1.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, on the other hand is slated to launch the opening of the state-level Kaamatan on May 30.
Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin will also grace a closing ceremony for the monthlong celebration on May 31.
All Kaamatan events will be broadcast live, streamed online or shared through various channels such as Radio Televisyen Malaysian (RTM), Astro, Facebook, YouTube and others.
