KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA November 22, 2025 – Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Kapayan State Legislative Assembly seat, Jannie Lasimbang, hosted the “With Lions, We Bond” event last night in Kapayan, featuring spectacular lion and dragon dance performances by three renowned Sabah troupes:
– Kota Kinabalu San Sheng Gong (Hong Teck) Dragon and Lion Dance Association
– Penampang Subang Dragon and Lion Dance Association
– Sabah Keong Fatt Dragon and Lion Dance Association
In a lengthy social media post, Jannie emphasised that multiculturalism and harmony are Kapayan’s most precious strengths.
“For the past seven to eight years of engaging with the community, I have learned so much from people of different ethnic groups and gained a deeper understanding of the value of Sabah’s multicultural society,” she said.
As a Kadazan who joined the Democratic Action Party (DAP) in 2017, Jannie shared that she was entrusted with organising Chinese New Year celebrations despite not being fluent in Mandarin.
“Language has never been a barrier because the future we are striving for is the same,” she stressed.
Every year, she organises five major cultural celebrations in Kapayan:
– Chinese New Year
– Hari Raya Aidilfitri
– Mid-Autumn Festival (Mooncake Festival)
– Christmas
– Kaamatan Harvest Festival
“Seeing more and more young people bravely taking the stage to sing Chinese songs, Kadazan songs, and even performing ‘Original Sabahan’ at the national Hakka singing competition truly touches my heart. This is the beauty of Sabah – diverse yet harmonious,” she added.
Jannie also highlighted the Sabah state government’s continuous support for cultural preservation, including:
– Annual donations of lion heads
– An allocation of RM70 million to non-Muslim religious and cultural organisations, temples, Chinese schools, and associations
“Kapayan and Penampang are the heartbeat of the Kadazan community, yet they are also home to the Chinese, Malay, and every other ethnic group. I will continue to defend this spirit of harmony so that all of us can live in peace and grow together here,” she pledged.
She concluded her post by expressing gratitude for the unwavering trust shown by the people and with a campaign call: “Kapayan, No. 10. Let us keep moving forward together.”
Last night’s event was attended by hundreds of residents from various ethnic backgrounds who thoroughly enjoyed the festive atmosphere while celebrating Sabah’s rich cultural diversity.
