Spirit of Gotong-royong to make tapai heritage for Kaamatan

11 April 2026

KENINGAU: The spirit of gotong-royong continues to flourish among the residents of Kampung Sandapak, Bingkor, as they join hands to prepare glutinous rice for tapai processing as early preparations for the village-level Kaamatan Festival scheduled for next month.

The community programme held yesterday morning at the Kampung Sandapak Multipurpose Hall was carried out under the supervision of the Chairman of the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), Nicole Mikat Atam, with active participation from residents of all ages.

They came together to cook and prepare the basic ingredients for tapi, the traditional drink of the Kadazandusun Murut Rungus (KDMR) community, which symbolises togetherness in every Kaamatan celebration.

This practice not only reflects the spirit of unity in line with the proverb “light burdens are carried together, heavy ones borne together”, but also strengthens the cultural heritage values passed down through generations in rural communities.

According to a resident met at the scene, Jaminol Gani said the tapai rice currently being processed will be fermented in ta jau until mature before being served to guests, including those from neighbouring villages expected to attend and liven up the Kaamatan celebrations later.

This tradition remains relevant and continues to be preserved, proving that cultural heritage never fades with time, even as society now lives in an era of technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

In a small village called Sandapak, the smoke rising from the wood-fired kitchen yesterday morning brought not just the aroma of tapi, it carried stories of people who still believe that true strength lies not in technology, but in hands that help one another and hearts that never forget their roots.