KENINGAU: Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan is hoping that a cultural centre will be built in the district.
The Huguan Siou, or Kadazandusun Murut paramount leader, said he had proposed it before and received the blessing from the then Prime Minister.
"I have raised this suggestion for Keningau to develop the district and interior areas. The building will also provide job opportunities.
"The district also has many people of different ethnicities, thus they can gather at one place," he said, adding the district has a space to build the premises.
He was speaking during the state-level Kaamatan festival at the Keningau Handicraft Centre here.
Pairin, who is also former Chief Minister, said there is also a suggestion from the Kadazandusun Cultural Association to honour, use and promote native languages in a month-long programme.
Meanwhile, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the district was chosen as the opening of the annual festival due to historical factors.
"It started when the Chief of Keningau Natives, OKK Sodomon, suggested that this festival be held at the district level and then expanded throughout Sabah in 1956.
"The proposal was debated and agreed by the Sabah Government and subsequently, gazetted three days on April 24, 25 and 26 as public holidays to celebrate Kaamatan.
"Later, the festival went through several stages of evolution and eventually it is celebrated throughout the month of May with the culmination on May 30 and 31," said the festival organising chairman.
Jeffrey, who is also Keningau member of parliament, said the district has good potential to be turned into a nature-based tourism centre.
Among the attractions, he said, include Trusmadi mountain, Batu Punggul, white water rafting, as well as the cultural and agricultural products.
He added that the government would also develop the interior areas as food and fruit valley.
Present at the opening was Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.