CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said he will work on the proposal to create a research chair for the Bajau Sama group at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
Hajiji, who is President of the Sabah Bajau Sama Association (PBSS), also congratulated the Semporna Bajau Arts Cultural Organisation (Pekas) and the Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Academy of Arts and Creative Technology (Astif) for making the International Lepa Regatta Festival from May 23-29 a success.
Pekas Chairman Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran Dandai had earlier proposed for the research chair to be established at UMS, which currently has a Kadazan Dusun Chair.
Hajiji said the State Government is committed to supporting the unique culture and traditions of the community in their respective districts such as the Lepa Regatta.
He said Sabahans are lucky to have a diversity of races and cultures, which are also a tourist attraction.
“Therefore, organising a programme like this (Lepa Regatta) is the best platform for the people, especially the Bajau community in Semporna, to highlight their traditional culture to visitors,” he said when launching the Sabah Lepa Regatta 2022 promotion at Padang Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu.
“Apart from the richness and beauty of biodiversity, the Lepa Regatta Festival is a treasure that must continue to be honoured, especially for the younger generation,” said Hajiji.
The Chief Minister said the opening of the country’s borders on April 1 was seen to help revive Sabah’s economy which was badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The closure of the borders the past two years affected the State’s tourism sector which is one of the main sources of income for Sabah’s economy.
“I am confident that the organisation of the Lepa Regatta Festival will continue to make Semporna, as one of the leading tourism and arts and culture destinations, not only in the State and region but also internationally,” he said.
