MP: KAAMATAN IS NOT FOR SELLING POLITICAL ITEMS

MP: Kaamatan is not for selling political items

Kota Kinabalu May 29, 2012: Ranau MP Datuk Siringan Gubat on Monday thanked Democratic Action Party (DAP) for realising its mistake on making use of the Tadau Kaamatan celebration as its political tool.

He believed Sabah DAP Secretary, Dr Edwin Bosi, was just trying to divert the people's attention on this matter by talking about the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants, which the Government is now attending to, and other things instead.

"(Because) never in history has any non-governmental organisation or political party sold election campaign materials during the Tadau Kaamatan festival, or a political activity be the highlight of the celebration, or be part of the celebration programme," he said.

He said probably this is part of DAP's motto "Ubah (change)" where it intends to change everything, including the way this festival is to be run.

Siringan, who is also Upko Vice President, said this in response to Dr Edwin who said his (Siringan) earlier comment that the Sabah DAP's promotion of its election mascot toys and DVDs of its election campaign song "Ubah" during its Kaamatan dinner is akin to trying to distract the people from the real issue which is the RCI.

The Ranau MP, in his earlier comment, had said that it is not good and proper for DAP to make use of the State's biggest cultural event, the Tadau Kaamatan, as a platform for its political activity.

He does not think it is good and proper for the harvest celebration to be mixed with any political activity, even if organised by a political party, as the celebration is meant for all regardless of background.

According to Siringan, at the recently concluded Tadau Kaamatan celebration organised by Upko which was graced by the Head of State, there was not even a speech as part of the programmes which were filled with cultural related activities.

"Throughout my years as a politician, I never talked about politics or projects during a Tadau Kaamatan eventÉbecause we emphasise on sunduwan gulu-gulu (the practices as inherited from ancestors) in celebrating this festival," he said.

Siringan is surprised as to why Dr Edwin, being a DAP leader from the Kadazandusun and Murut (KDM) community, did not consult or guide the party properly in organising the festival.