KOTA MARUDU: The Momogun National Congress (MNC), in collaboration with the Kota Marudu District Office and the Sabah State Cultural Board (LKNS), will host Karnival Momogun 2026 from 13th to 15th August 2026 at Pentas Utama Dataran Kota Marudu.
The event, held in conjunction with World Indigenous Peoples Day (Sambutan Hari Orang Asal Sedunia), carries the theme “Memperkasa Kesejahteraan Orang Asal” (Empowering the Well-being of Indigenous Peoples) this year. Its official launch ceremony will be officiated by the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.
The three-day festival serves as a platform to celebrate cultural heritage, promote indigenous community empowerment, and explore key policy and socio-economic issues facing native communities in Sabah.
Among the highlights is the Sabah Indigenous Rights Awareness Forum scheduled for Friday, 14th August, at 1:30 PM. Moderated by Mathius Manang, the panel will feature several prominent leaders discussing issues affecting indigenous communities in the state.
Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau will speak on government policies and their implementation regarding indigenous rights, while Datuk Dr. Maijol Mahap will address native customary land rights. Prof Datuk Dr. Ts. Ramzah Dambul will discuss the socio-economic development of indigenous communities, and Monih Epin will speak on native cultural education and the preservation of ethnic languages.
Visitors can also enjoy a variety of cultural and heritage showcases throughout the carnival, including traditional Hut exhibitions, traditional sports competitions, cultural performances, traditional fashion shows, and Storytelling. Evenings will be enlivened with entertainment, featuring live performances by local artists, the Momogun Concert, and a special appearance by the popular Kuala Lumpur-based rock band Kristal.
Local entrepreneurship will be highlighted with an exhibition and sale of products from local entrepreneurs and the Jualan Rahmah Madani initiative, which will run throughout the event. The festival will also feature the presentation of the Indigenous Leader Award 2026 honouring outstanding native figures for their contributions to the community.
Visitors attending the carnival will have the chance to win major prizes through a lucky draw, including a four-by-four vehicle as the grand prize.
Admission to the carnival is open to the public. -pr/BNN
