SAANS participate in Sabah Day Parade

5 September 2025

KOTA KINABALU: More than 200 teachers and participants from Sekolah Adat Anak Negeri Sabah (SAANS) across the state took part in the 3rd Sabah Day Parade recently in the state capital, showcasing patriotic fervour and love for the Land Below the Wind, a legacy inherited from their ancestors.

Five SAANS contingents from the Interior Upper and Interior Lower zones, comprising about 76 participants, joined their counterparts from the West Coast, East Coast and Northern zones. Their presence not only enlivened the parade but also carried deep symbolism as a celebration of history and the identity of the indigenous people of Sabah.

The parade provided an opportunity for SAANS teachers and students to express their gratitude and affection for the homeland while instilling values of patriotism among the younger generation.

According to Rozie Gitang, Deputy Director of SAANS Interior Zone,

“31 August is a sacred date that every Sabahan must remember, for it marks the day our homeland was freed from the grip of colonial rule. SAANS’ participation in this parade is not merely symbolic but an effort to cultivate national pride and love for the country among the younger generation, so that our independence will always be preserved and safeguarded.”

This annual programme also enables SAANS, like other organisations and agencies, to highlight the culture and heritage of Sabah’s indigenous communities while fostering unity among teachers, students and society at large.

The 2025 Sabah Day Parade was not only about the spirited marchers on the streets, it also echoed the state’s history, courage and burning love for the homeland. Every flag raised and every cheer resounding through the air affirmed that Sabah is free because its people dared to stand tall, and today’s youth will ensure that independence continues to shine for generations to come.