KOTA KINABALU, May 31 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has today assured Malaysians that all ethnic groups and cultures will be celebrated under his federal administration.

During his visit to the state-level Kaamatan or harvest festival here, he said that his presence was to show the public that Putrajaya is in a new phase that aims to uplift everyone.

"Each and everyone has their own distinct culture and uniqueness and should not only be tolerated but appreciated.

"So I have come here to show that my leadership and is a sign that all races and cultures need to be recognised and celebrated,” he said during his speech at the Hongkod Koisaan or Kadazandusun Cultural Association building.

Anwar is believed to be the second prime minister to attend the much-celebrated Kaamatan event in Sabah, after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1994.

Anwar said that Kaamatan was the people’s festival and this would not be the last time he would attend the annual affair.

He also said that his government was serious about helping to solve Sabah’s perennial issues about basic infrastructure like water supply, roads and also state rights under the Malaysian Agreement 1963.

"That is why I’ve been coming here so often recently. I think it’s a record. No other PM has come this many times in such a short span, even Wan Azizah has asked me what I am coming here so often for, and I told her: ‘It’s a secret’,” he said to laughter from the crowd, referring to former deputy prime minister and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Anwar said that he will chair a "high-level meeting” of senior administration tomorrow morning to solve the state’s recent water woes.

"I have also increased allocation for roads in Sabah because I know the state needs it. The Pan-Borneo highway will be expedited and the state will be put in charge of the development projects,” he said.

Anwar also praised Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for his commitment and dedication to the state, saying that the latter had spoken of the state’s needs late into the night after his arrival.

Hajiji in his speech earlier also said that Sabah should feel proud and excited that the Prime Minister attended the state’s event today.

"Sabahans, especially the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Rungus (KDMR) community should feel especially proud of the prime minister’s attendance today.

"This is a historic moment in the state-level Kaamatan celebrations and it is not often that the country’s number one leader makes time to be with us on his busy schedule,” he said.

Kaamatan is the state’s traditional harvest festival where rice-planting tribes give thanks to their ancestors for a bountiful harvest.

The festival is rooted in month-long traditions and rituals for the KDM community but the state-level Kaamatan celebration in KDCA every year culminates in a two-day fest where people from all walks of life are welcomed to join in the festivities and also watch some of the rituals during the opening and closing ceremony.

Anwar has four events scheduled on his day trip today. He will be visiting the Lok Kawi military base as well as a Semarak Perpaduan event in Kinarut, Papar before another session of youth engagement at Universiti Malaysia Sabah this evening.

He will also be flying to Sarawak to attend the state-level Gawai Dayak festival.