PAITAN: Minister of Community Development and People’s Well-being (KPMKR) Datuk James Ratib said the Kaamatan Festival is one of the best opportunities to make peace and forgive each other, and to be thankful for the harvest and the peace and prosperity that we all enjoy.
“In the context of gratitude and thanks, the celebration this year is definitely very meaningful for all the people of Paitan when the result of our hard work and effort over the years in bringing change to the small district of Paitan has finally yielded a harvest,” he said.
According to James, the community here is grateful for the recognition of the Paitan Subdistrict as a full district, as well as the approval of the construction of the Paitan Multi-Purpose Hall amounting to RM2 million.
Apart from that, he said other development include projects that have a big impact on the people of Paitan such as the Rural Water Supply Project (BALB) in Sugut, Paitan, the Mini Estate Sejahtera Road Project (Mesej) Tabatu, Paitan for a distance of 5.6 kilometers, and the construction of the Main Input Substation (PMU) of 132 kilovolt electricity from Bengkoka, Pitas to Sugut, Paitan.
He added that with the upgrading of Paitan to a full district, the infrastructure facilities such as roads, water supply and electricity here will continue to be strengthened and become a priority.
In addition, he said, the initiative under the ‘Prihatin Rakyat Paitan’ program, which is assistance in financing patient bills in hospital wards for the people of Paitan that he introduced and implemented last year, will continue this year.
He said, the Prihatin Rakyat Program was also supplemented by the implementation of a free health check-up program and the People’s Accident Insurance Scheme for of Sabahans.
James, who is also the Sugut Assemblyman, said this while officiating the celebration of the Paitan Sub-District Level Kaamatan Festival held at the Paitan Sub-District Office Open Hall, Saturday.
In connection with that, he emphasised that the government is always concerned and committed to continue improving the socioeconomic status of the people by driving development in the State, including in Paitan.
“It is proven through the implementation of various policies and agendas under the State Government led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor.
“Thus, I invite the people in Sugut to continue to give solid support to the government’s efforts in defending the people’s destiny by ensuring that every implementation of the planned development programme can run smoothly,” he said.
Regarding the celebration of the Kaamatan Festival, James was amazed and happy to see the attendance of the people at the event which he described as a large and lively celebration.
“Make this a vehicle to continue to strengthen and solidify the friendship already established between communities of multiple races, religions, differences in political ideologies and also age levels in Paitan.
“Make this Kaamatan Festival celebration a starting point for us to boost the economic level of ourselves, our families and the community, in order to secure a better future, in parallel with the raising of the standards for the entire district, soon.”
