TAWAU: August 2, 2026 – A festive atmosphere filled the Ethnic House Exhibition at the Tawau International Cultural Festival (FKAT) 2026, where 32 communities competed to showcase their unique cultural heritage.
The Bugis Ethnic House successfully captured the spotlight and was crowned overall champion, taking home a prize of RM2,000 and the challenge trophy.
For local visitors and those from outside Sabah, it was not just a competition but felt like “travelling across the entire Malay Archipelago” in a single day.
Each ethnic house displayed captivating cultures, traditional attire, heritage cuisine, and exquisite handicrafts.
“Every house has its own story and uniqueness,” said Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Dr. Andi Md Shamsureezal Mohd Sainal, when officiating the event on Friday.
The good news is that FKAT will be included in Sabah’s tourism calendar for 2027, in conjunction with the Visit Sabah Year.
This means that the festival, which was previously better known at the local level, is set to become a major draw for international tourists.
“Next year, we will celebrate it on an even bigger and more vibrantly!” he promised.
This year’s competition saw the Toraja Ethnic House in second place (RM1,500) and the Mandar Ethnic House in third place (RM1,000).
For the residents of Tawau, this is an opportunity to be proud, as FKAT is now being recognised on a wider stage.
Unexpectedly, these colourfully decorated ethnic houses have the potential to transform Sabah’s tourism landscape.
Also present were Tawau Municipal Council President Mohd Shoffian Mohd Said, Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Tawau, Dino Nurwahyudin, and Tawau Municipal Council Secretary, Siti Nabillah Hadi.
Source: JAPEN
