PESTA JAGUNG KINI DIKENALI SEBAGAI PESTA KOTA MARUDU.

'Pesta Jagung' is now 'Pesta Kota Marudu'

10th November, 2014 KOTA MARUDU: After 14 years of being held as an annual festival that has made corn synonymous with Kota Marudu, Pesta Jagung which was held with much fun-fare here yesterday will be reinvented as Pesta Kota Marudu.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Maximus Ongkili said the festival would be known as Pesta Kota Marudu from next year in line with the state government’s directive for festivals held by the respective districts to reflect the features of the districts and not based on one product only.
“The state government’s call relating to festivities held by the districts is timely since Pesta Jagung has already made Kota Marudu famous for corn farming. With the festival now called Pesta Kota Marudu, we will be able to highlights the various features and products of Kota Marudu.
“These include the various agricultural products and activities, cultures and practices that derive from Kota Marudu and other activities such as the 4×4 motorsports that is quite active here,” said Dr. Maximus who is also Kota Marudu MP.
However, corn would still remain a strong feature of the festival, he said, adding that efforts needed to be continued to promote corn planting activities and development of corn products from Kota Marudu.
Dr. Maximus also said that activities to promote green lifestyle and using energy efficiently are some of the good habits that would also be promoted during the festival by targeting groups such as the youths.
“Pesta Kota Marudu will be held around year end after the Kaamatan festival which is also a big event in our district,” he added during the launch of the Pesta Jagung.
Activities at the Pesta Jagung included community sports and games, a Ratu Pesta Jagung beauty pageant, competitions based on agricultural products, motorsports and exhibitions by various private sector and government departments and agencies including those under the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry.
Dr. Maximus also said that development taking place in Kota Marudu was evident and price of property had more than tripled in recent years.
“Kota Marudu’s strategic location makes it an ideal district to become the economic hub of northern Sabah. The development taking place is due to everyone’s efforts including the government and public sector,” he said.
He said among the projects to fulfil the social needs of the people was the building of 500 units of public housing under the Skim Perumahan Rakyat.
“The transformation of Kg Gana also underway with the completion of the 26km asphalt road linking the village to the town area. This enables economic activities to take place in the village as well as providing better facilities for the villagers,” he said.
The village is home to 450 families from 10 villages scattered within and adjacent to the Lingkabau Forest Reserve who were relocated through the Gana Resettlement and Integrated Development Project in 1997.
The houses of the families will also be rebuilt as part of the transformation plan, beginning next year.
“Under the Gana Agropolitan scheme, the planting of rubber involving 491 ha of land has competed while the second phase involving 1,000 ha of land will commence next year. The scheme is undertaken through the Sabah Rubber Industry Board,” he added.