Through my aging eyes: Kaamatan – A Blend of Politics and Culture

By Dr Edwin Bosi
DAP Sabah State Secretary
Borneo Post
1.6.11

If my recollection is right the planting season used to be from February to May of each year. I remember the meticulous preparation from clearing a plot of land for the nursery to transplanting and harvesting. Each family had a fenced-up plot where every bit of herbage was removed, and using a sharpened pole my mom would plunge it into the ground, making sure the small holes thus created were in a neat roll. Then the best quality padi grains were placed into the tiny holes and buried by racking the soil at the surface. Up on the trees, little “pipit” or brownish sparrows were waiting to salvage whatever grains were found scattered on the plot. The size of the plot depends on the acreage of ones padi field.

The seedlings upon reaching about a foot tall were ready for transplanting onto the field. While the seeds grew the padi land was prepared by ploughing with the assistance of an obedient and trained buffaloes. The bunds were repaired and made strong enough to hold the water. The soil was then broken or harrowed before the seedlings were transplanted. Usually there were few people involved in the planting in unison using a short small sharpened wood to make the holes in the soil and then sticking the seedlings into them. The job was executed by stepping backward to ensure a straight line was achieved. If I can recall the planting distant between two seedlings was about 18 inches.

The padi would grow with frequent weeding to remove grasses and non-edible water plants between the rolls of padi. I remember also the abundance of small “karuk” fishes called “tundongih” in the field. My mom would look for edible plants called “kakatung” which went well with the green frogs. The “tundongih” was perfect in “pinasakan” with “takob-akob” which gave it a aromatic delicious taste. The bigger “karuk” were nice when boiled in soup.

During the harvesting it was also time to look for padi rats that lived inside the bunds and fattened from stealing the grains. I vividly remember scrambling to hunt down these rodents, smoking them out of their holes and chasing them around in the field. The dogs came handy and would also be rewarded. They were great when barbequed using the empty padi stalks for fire. The other local delicacy was the green grasshoppers. Toss them onto the fire for a minute and they made good snack after a tiring harvesting and “mongogik”. The latter is pretty unique because the two feet must coordinate well to separate the padi grains from the stalks.

The pre-planting, planting and harvesting are very ritualistic for the Kadazan Dusun community. The “Bobohizans” play a very crucial and important role in the society before Christianity was accepted. This ritual continues till today and is played and re-played every year on 30 and 31st of May. It is officially known as Kaamatan.

The padi planting among the Kadazan Dusuns has been reduced to negligible level especially when imported rice is so cheap and easily available. Many padi fields have been made redundant while others have been converted into residential area. In Penampang, along the Penampang By-Pass a huge padi field has been developed for the city’s sewerage plant. This is one BN project that stands out very prominently in Penampang.

With such background why should we continue to celebrate Kaamatan. I was tasked to chaired the DAP Sabah pesta Kaamatan this year. As an opposition in Sabah, it is basically a fundraising dinner. We just do not have the money to provide free food, drinks and entertainment for the general public. Ours is the opposite of the State-sponsored Kaamatan at the KDCA.

I have been trying to find an angle in the Kaamatan for DAP. As we are bringing in National leaders from Kuala Lumpur in the person of our National Advisor Lim Kit Siang, the Kaamatan has to be a blend of politics and culture. The story of legendary Huminodun who offered herself as sacrificial lamb to appease the spirit in order to stop the severe famine that struck her village is at the back of my mind. Here, Huminodun’s body was chopped into pieces and scattered all over the land. When the rain finally arrive food plants such as padi, tapioca, maize and so forth sprouted from her flesh and bones. Her community was thus saved.

Thus during our DAP Kaamatan at Putera Ballroom in Bukit Padang on 27th May, I had managed to combine three elements – beauty contest, body building and cultural shows to reflect on the Kadazan Dusun Murut community. The beauty contestants or “Unduk Ngadau” gave emphasis on the role of Huminodun, the beauty among the beauties who without hesitation came forth to offer herself to be a sacrificial lamb to save her people from sure death from starvation. We showcase our fine men who took all the pain to build their body to become known as the incredible hulks. They represent the strength of the Kadazan Dusun Murut society. The singing, “sumazau”, music and gongs were there to represent the fine quality, civility, friendliness and resourcefulness of the Kadazan Dusun Murut people.

On the political front, I tried to show the political awareness and awakening of the Kadazan Dusun Murut people. Their support and presence at this DAP function together with the equally strong Chinese community is a good indicator of unity and braveness to face the future together in the wake of the incredible strong surge in illegal immigrants legalised and entered into the electoral roll by the UMNO BN government. The political speeches from our State and National leaders in particular Sdra Kit Siang provided the “electric shocks” to the targeted community.

Kaamatan should also be viewed by the practicing community on how far they have fared since the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. With a commanding 60% of the population in 1963 to become just 30% is not something to be happy about. There is now 3.2 million Sabahans in which 50% is not local Sabahans. The economy is sluggish the poorly educated and trained local youth are leaving for Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Brunei. In their absence, illegal immigrants fill the vacuum, legalised and now become voters. This group is only good for the constructions and plantations and with a sluggish economy they will turn into crime to survive. They will soon touch everyone’s life including UMNO and BN members. Unemployment will create social upheaval and a security concern. They are now staring right in front of our faces.

My wish for Kaamatan is to see Sabahans taking control of our destiny. Genuine Sabahans should be given an opportunity to feel and share the wealth of this State irrespective of their racial and religious background. The government of the day has and is not receptive to this idea as seen from their action when it comes to the problem of illegal immigrants. The Kadazan Dusun Murut community must respond and rise to the challenges that besieged them. Unity, one heart, one mind and one soul are an elusive dreams but this is the only way forward. While we still have the strength and beauty, the civility and intelligence we are lacking the political clout. We are sidelined, marginalised and disarrayed. I thought of Devine intervention and it struck me that Huminodun that we hope to come forward has always been with us. I see Pakatan Rakyat as the Huminodun, and if our community can unite under its banner for once I can see there is light at the end of the tunnel.

(Published in The Borneo Post, 1st June 2011)