TAMPARULI: At the final round of the Sugandoi Kaamatan competition held at Tun Hamdan Community Hall, participants were urged to actively preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Kadazan Dusun community, Sabah First Info reported.
Sabah Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim emphasised the importance of cultural sustainability, especially among the youth and children taking part in the competition.
"I call upon the contestants not only to participate during the Kaamatan festival but to continuously learn and cherish our native language to ensure our cultural identity is not lost over time," he said.
Jahid, who is also the deputy president of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association, said the Sugandoi competition should serve as more than just a talent showcase but as a crucial platform for strengthening the bonds of community and cultural heritage.
"By learning and practising our mother tongue, the young generation can ensure the survival of the Kadazan Dusun identity," Jahid added, quoting the Kadazan adage, "Atagak Boros, Atagak No Tinaru," which means "If our language is lost, our people will gradually vanish."
The competition concluded with Scholastica Ann winning the title in the Open Category of the Sugandoi Kaamatan District Level.