DALAT: The Sungai Kut Muara Kaul Festival continues to serve as a vital platform for preserving the cultural heritage of the Melanau community while strengthening unity and social bonds among local residents.
Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah emphasised that this time-honoured tradition must be safeguarded to ensure the younger generation understands, appreciates and carries forward the Melanau cultural identity.
“Kaul is a traditional ritual that symbolizes gratitude and serves as a symbolic cleansing from misfortune, according to the ancestral beliefs of the Melanau people,” she said when officiating the Sungai Kut Muara Kaul Festival 2026 at the Kampung Sungai Kut Muara Futsal Court on Tuesday (Jun 2).
The Dalat assemblywoman added that authentic Melanau traditions such as the ‘Memulik Lo Tou Lo Amou’ ritual, alongside the ‘Serareng’ and ‘Rhabong’ processions carrying offerings to the ‘Tugik’ are proudly maintained to this day.
Fatimah noted that beyond cultural preservation, the festival plays a crucial role in introducing the history, customs and core values of the Melanau community to youths.
During the event, Fatimah also presented Phase 2 of the 2026 Dalat Minor Rural Project (MRP) allocation amounting to RM693,000 to support various community development and educational programmes in the area.
Of the total allocation, RM585,000 was channelled to Village Development and Security Committees (JKKKs), RM77,000 for community projects including the organisation of the Kaul Festival and repairs to places of worship, while RM31,000 was allocated to the education sector.
She expressed hope that the Kaul Festival would always be protected as a cultural treasure and urged recipients to fully utilize the funds to enhance public wellbeing and drive local development.
Also present at the event were Dalat District Office representative Nurul Khairul Nisa and Kampung Sungai Kut Muara headman Muklis.
