In a speech to mark Sabah Ethnic Day, Hajiji said the celebration serves as a platform to celebrate the diversity of cultural and ethnic heritage, as well as a symbol of harmony and unity among the people of the state, the Borneo Post reported.

He hoped the state’s ethnic associations would strengthen their cultural products as tourist attractions to help increase tourist arrivals and achieve the target of four million visitors to Sabah this year.

Hajiji said the state government had allocated RM174 million to strengthen the tourism industry and preserve Sabah’s cultural heritage, with RM38 million allocated for improvements to facilities at the Petagas War Memorial Park, the construction of the Ranau Ethnic Museum, the upgrading of the Penampang Cultural Centre, and enhancements to the Murut Cultural Centre in Tenom.

Hajiji said the state government would also continue initiatives to strengthen Sabah’s heritage and culture through an ethnic cultural mapping project from 2026 to 2030 “to ensure the state’s ethnic diversity is systematically documented for reference by present and future generations”.

He said the Sabah Ethnic Day celebrations, now in its sixth year, also features a new element, a cultural parade bringing together various ethnic groups from across Sabah.