KENINGAU: Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) Vice President Datuk Peter Anthony said Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, the Huguan Siou (paramount leader) of the Kadazandusun-Murut (KDM) community in Sabah, has agreed to a proposal on unity of the indigenous ethnic groups irrespective of political leanings.
Peter said the proposal was put forward to Pairin at a meeting in early May relating to the Pesta Kaamatan (the community’s Harvest Festival) for solidarity among KDM leaders.
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“We are all under one roof, all this while the KDM community was split because of political differences,” he told reporters after officiating the district-level Pesta Kaamatan celebration, here, Sunday.
The Sabah Infrastructure Minister said he had also asked Pairin to lead talks to bring KDM leaders together to discuss the direction of the community for future generations.
“It is time for KDMs to be united under one roof instead of being separated by political affiliations on the basis of their respective political leaders.
“I am confident that Pairin has the view and openness to come back with us and forget about the past. What matters is our togetherness, mutual understanding and agreement to build and solve problems affecting especially our KDM generation,” he said.
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According to him, the platform used for this agreement is realistic.
“We forget the ideology of politics and focus on our KDMs or nation. How do we elaborate without mixing in the culture or the interests of our people and exposing such political agendas and others? I believe this method can solve this problem.”
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Meanwhile, KDCA Deputy President cum Keningau MP Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who was also present at the meeting, said he supported the move as it augured well for the community.
Also present were Rural Development Assistant Minister Rasinin Koutis, Bingkor Assemblyman Robert Tawik, Parti Warisan Sabah Secretary Loretto Padua, Parti Warisan Sabah Information Chief Datuk Jake Jikulin Nointin, Kaamatan Festival Coordinator Chairman and Assistant District Officer Edward Bungsu.