Pomp and pageantry expected at UPKO Harvest Festival

30 April 2024

By AVV

PENAMPANG: The United Progressve Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) Harvest Festival celebration to be held at Kuala Penyu on May 11 and 12 will be a testament to the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the region.

Kuala Penyu is the traditional home of the Tatana people that boasts its own traditional and cultural norm under the Kadazandusun umbrella, and as such the event will showcase their uniqueness while according unforgettable experiences for all revelers.

Its organising Chairman Datuk Nelson W Angang said the event will start on May 11, where ten agencies under the Ministry of Entrepreneur development and Cooperative (MEDC) and two banks such as Bank Rakyat and SME Banks will display their facilities and services to the visiting public. Members of Cooperatives and entrepreneurs are also expected to showcase their product and services.

MEDC Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick who is also UPKO President had always stressed on the importance of cooperatives and entrepreneur development, which resulted in the holding of the carnival in the coming harvest festival.

Besides being able to garner information from these booths, guests will have the opportunity to indulge in a delightful array of traditional food, showcased from the 25 UPKO zones, each representing unique cultural norms and traditional music.

The festival hoped to attract at least 2000 people from in and around the region as well as from other parts of the State. The event will be held within the Dato Shahbandar Makang Hall as well as the open hall outside.

According to Nelson, the Harvest Festival’s Beauty Pageant will kick off with a gala night on May 11, at the Hall. About 25 participants are expected to walk the stage, each representing the UPKO Zones. This event will also see the singing competition being held at the same time.

The main Harvest Queen contest will take place on May 12, and winners will have the opportunity to win cash prizes. The prizes for the contest are 1st Place: RM 3,000, Runner-Up: RM 2,500, 3rd Place: RM2,000, 4th Place RM 1,000 5th Place RM 800 and 6th Place RM 600 while 7th Place gets RM 500. There will also be subsidiary titles to be accorded cash prizes.

Nelson who is also UPKO’s secretary general shared that the prizes for the singers are first prize RM3000 and a certificate of participation, second prize is RM2000 with certificate, third prize is RM1000 with certificate and seven consolation prizes of RM300 and certificate respectively.

The Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Haji Noor is expected to attend the event, he said, adding that the notable guest is expected to come on the first day.