Lumbis Pangkayungon …leading the Indonesians to the Harvest Festival 2025 in Penampang, Sabah.
Promotion for the cultural visit
By Allan G. Dumbong
International Correspondent (New Zealand)
NORTH KALIMANTAN, Indonesia :- Some 100 indigenous visitors from Nunukan and Malinau will be travelling to Sabah, Malaysia, this May to attend the Kaamatan (Harvest ) Festival 2025, a major cultural event celebrating
the traditions of the Kadazan Dusun and Murut communities.
Held annually, the festival is an important event for the indigenous communities, especially the Kadazan Dusun and Murut, who belong to the larger Dayak ethnic group.
Kaamatan serves as an occasion for thanksgiving, cultural performances and the preservation of traditional heritage.
The Kaamatan Festival showcases traditional dances, music and local cuisine and offers visitors a deeper insight into the rich cultural diversity of Sabah.
To facilitate travel, Pagun Taka Jaya Travel and Lumbis Pansiangan have organised travel arrangements for visitors from Nunukan and Malinau.
The visitors from North Kalimantan coming to Kaamatan are not new as they have been delegations in previous years.
The participants are expected to show off their cultural attire and thus contribute to a lively exchange with the local communities in Sabah.
Lumbis Pangkayungon, 40, a passionate environmental and cultural leader, spoke in favour of improving cross-border visits and emphasised their cultural and economic benefits for the peoples of Borneo.
“This is an opportunity for the people of Nunukan and Malinau to learn about the Kadazan Dusun and Murut cultures in Sabah, Malaysia,” he said.
Lumbis also highlighted the importance of cultural tourism, explaining that such trips allow travellers to explore the history, traditions, and customs of different communities through museum visits, festivals, and interactions with locals.
Visitors can interact with the local communities and experience the unique traditions of the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Rungus.
He also pointed out that travelling to Sabah is more affordable compared to other international destinations, making it an accessible cultural experience.
Lumbis, a former chairman of the Customary Laws and a doctoral candidate at Airlangga University, advised the delegates to comply with Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) requirements, including obtaining a border crossing pass (PLB), which is mandatory for all participants.
Therefore, Lumbis hopes that the Sabah state government and the Malaysian Immigration Department can facilitate cross-border entry via Pegalungan, Labang and not just Nunukan as most visitors are Muruts coming from Malinau, while entering via Nunukan involves more cost and travelling time.
This cross-border cultural participation is expected to strengthen relations between North Kalimantan and Sabah, two neighbouring regions of Borneo, promote regional tourism and create a greater appreciation of shared indigenous heritage across state borders.
