TUARAN: More than 5,000 people packed the Seri Sulaman Hall here on Sunday to witness the finals of the Betitik Festival and Bajau Sama singing competition organised by the Welfare and Culture Bureau of the Tuaran Umno Division.
The two-day event which began on Saturday, was officiated by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Hj Hajiji Hj Noor who is also Tuaran Umno divisional chief.
Also present were Hajiji’s wife, Datin Seri Hjh Juliah Salag; Tuaran district officer AM Ibnu AK Baba; Tuaran OCPD DSP Abdul Fuad Malek; and Hajiji’s political secretary, Abdul Kassim Hj Razali.
Hajiji who is also Sulaman assemblyman, presented the prizes to the winners. He also handed over foodstuff to several senior citizens.
Fifteen teams took part in the Betitik competition in two categories.
The Batu Berani team from Mengkabong was declared champion in Category A, followed by the Seri Nongkolud, Bestari and Serarok teams.
In Category B, the champion was the Seni Penimbawan Satu team, followed by the Bunga Tenghilan, Seri Betutai, and Kindu teams.
The Baja Sama singing competition was won by Ahmad Hj Dullah. Runners-up were Madkamis @ Sekam Segar and Nurul Azyahtul Norkafli.
Meanwhile, Hajiji in his speech praised the bureau headed by Tuaran District Chief OKK Mohd Daud Sedek for taking the initiative to organise the festival which he described as timely.
“Culture can unite the people. In the context of multi-cultural Malaysia, it is called Unity in Diversity,” he stressed.
He also pointed out that cultural traditions practised since time immemorial should be preserved at all costs before they become extinct.
On the singing competition, Hajiji said it was one way to ensure that the young grow up knowing how to speak their mother tongue.