Read this in:
▪ Bahasa Malaysia (pdf, 172 KB)
▪ Chinese Mandarin (pdf, 381 KB)
Annual Kaamatan campaign culminates with a limited-edition Ford Ranger XL for the MAGGI® Jom Masak & Menang Bersama Grand Prize winner and a RM15,000 contribution to Hopes Malaysia Welfare Association, supporting women in rural Sabah
Year after year, MAGGI® joins Sabahans in celebrating Pesta Kaamatan, not only as a cherished harvest festival, but as an expression of the food, traditions and togetherness that shape everyday life in the state.
This year’s celebrations culminated at Suria Mall, where MAGGI® crowned Jurinah Binti Zainal from Labuan as the Grand Prize winner of its annual Kaamatan campaign contest, MAGGI® Jom Masak & Menang Bersama. The winner drove away in a limited-edition Ford Ranger XL featuring a bespoke design inspired by local Sabahan motifs.
The celebration also carried the spirit of Kaamatan forward through a RM15,000 contribution to the Hopes Malaysia Welfare Association. The contribution will support 20 rural families in Kadamaian, Kota Belud, with a focus on empowering women and improving access to nutritious food.
“MAGGI® shows up for Kaamatan every year because it is a celebration deeply rooted in family, food and community; which are all the things that bring Sabahans together,” said Ivy Tan Link Cheh, Business Executive Officer of MAGGI® Malaysia and Singapore. “From the excitement of preparing a harvest feast to the familiar meals shared around the family table, MAGGI® has long been part of these meaningful moments. We are here not to change the food and traditions people love, but to give every cook, especially the next generation, the confidence to carry them forward.”
Inspiring a New Generation to Keep Traditions Alive
Throughout its Kaamatan campaign, MAGGI® created opportunities for young Malaysians to reconnect with their culinary heritage and discover the role they can play in preserving it.
Working with cultural and culinary advocates such as Chef Melvin Gatu in Sabah, MAGGI® encouraged young cooks to embrace the flavours, stories and culinary knowledge passed down through generations.
The brand brought this message to celebrations across East Malaysia, including the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan in Tambunan and Papar, Pesta Rakit in Kampung Simpok, and the Tematu EthnoFest. Its efforts also reached East Malaysian communities living away from home through the Borneo Native Festival in Kuala Lumpur and collaborations with cultural ambassadors.
Across these engagements, food became a shared language through which young Malaysians could celebrate their identity, learn from their elders and keep their cultural traditions thriving.
Empowering Women and Nourishing Rural Families
In keeping with Kaamatan’s spirit of gratitude and shared prosperity, MAGGI® announced a RM15,000 contribution to the Hopes Malaysia Welfare Association. This initiative places a strong emphasis on empowering women, prioritising women farmers among the 20 participating rural families in Kadamaian, Kota Belud. By equipping these women with essential education, skills, and tools, the programme enables them to cultivate a wider variety of nutritious vegetables for their households and earn a consistent supplementary income. By strengthening women’s skills and capabilities, the initiative contributes to better family nutrition, greater food self-sufficiency and more resilient rural communities.
“This contribution represents meaningful support for the women in Kadamaian,” said Sam Lee, Founder & Executive Director of Hopes Malaysia Welfare Association. “When women receive the right knowledge, skills and tools, the benefits reach the entire household. They are able to provide more nutritious food for their families, create a sustainable source of additional income and build greater confidence in shaping their own future. We are grateful to MAGGI® for standing alongside the women and communities we serve.”
Me and MAGGI® So Good Together, Every Day
While Pesta Kaamatan is celebrated once a year, the sense of connection found in Sabah’s kitchens continues every day. For generations, MAGGI® has been present in the small but meaningful moments that make up Malaysian life—from quick meals between classes and comforting food after a long day, to family recipes prepared for festive gatherings.
These are the everyday #SayaDanMAGGI moments which are familiar, personal and shared across generations. As Malaysians continue creating new memories around food, MAGGI® remains a trusted companion in the kitchen and at the table.
“Pesta Kaamatan comes once a year, but Me and MAGGI® So Good Together is something we experience every day,” said Ivy Tan. “Whether it is a cherished family recipe, a quick meal in a dorm room, lunch at the office or a dish prepared for the people we love, MAGGI® has always been part of these little meaningful moments. We look forward to continuing to create many more great moments together.”
Follow MAGGI® Malaysia on social media to share your #SayaDanMAGGI moment and catch the highlights from this year's Pesta Kaamatan celebrations. For more information, visit www.maggi.com.my.
###
About Chef Melvin Gatu
Chef Melvin Gatu is one of Sabah's most recognised culinary voices and a dedicated champion of Kadazan-Dusun food heritage. Born and raised in Ranau, he spent a decade building an international culinary career across restaurants, hotels, and a posting in Qatar before returning home with a clear purpose: to document ancestral Sabahan recipes that exist only in oral tradition, bring them to a new generation, and put Sabahan food on the national and global map. Known for his emphasis on local ingredients, authentic kampung flavours, and the stories behind every dish, Chef Melvin has built a following through his YouTube channel and social media platforms that has made traditional Sabahan cooking accessible and relevant to home cooks across Malaysia. He is currently Chef de Cuisine at Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Committee member of Sabah Chef Association, and is in his second year as a MAGGI® Malaysia partner.
About MAGGI®
MAGGI® is the iconic food brand in Malaysia. Its core mission is to create good-food moments that bring families closer together. Through its wide range of products and food solutions, MAGGI® helps Malaysians to prepare tasty and balanced homemade meals for themselves or their families every day. The brand is also committed to the ever-evolving needs of meal providers, providing innovative solutions from noodles to culinary products, which continue to delight and inspire Malaysians to cook the fresh food they love and believe in. To learn more, please visit www.maggi.my.
About MAGGI® Wanita Cukup Berani
Since its launch, Program MAGGI® WCB has reached thousands of Malaysian women, helping them build confidence, explore new skills, and unlock opportunities that empower both their personal and professional lives. Rooted in the belief that women are the core pillars of families and communities, WCB was created to empower them with the support and opportunities needed to grow, thrive, and shape future generations. The programme combines practical learning with community support, proving that courage, confidence, and the right guidance can change lives.
About Nestlé Malaysia: Nourishing Malaysians for Over a Century
Since 1912, Nestlé has been dedicated to nourishing Malaysians and building their trust through our high-quality brands and products. We contribute to food security as well as to the health and well-being of the Rakyat through our trusted brands and a long-term commitment to Malaysia in the form of investments, employment, and various initiatives that uplift local communities. Today, we operate six factories, employing over 5,000 Malaysians, and we are the Halal Centre of Excellence for Nestlé globally. We are committed to providing halal, nutritious, and high-quality products with sustainability at the heart of our business practices - Made in Malaysia, by Malaysians, for all Malaysians.
As the world's largest food and beverage manufacturer, with our headquarters based in Switzerland, Nestlé operates in over 180 countries. With a workforce of over 270,000 dedicated employees, we are driven by our purpose to unlock the power of food, enhancing the quality of life for everyone, both today and for future generations. Our commitment to nutrition, health, and wellness guides our performance, ensuring we deliver on our promise of GOOD FOOD, GOOD LIFE.
To discover more about our century-long journey of nourishing Malaysians, please visit our website at https://www.Nestlé.com.my/ask-Nestlé/we-are-Nestlé.
For more information, please contact:
Shaheen Zaffar
Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad
Tel: (+603) 7965 6456
Mobile: +6012-235 6865
E-mail: [email protected]
Ooi See Bee
Tel: +6012 389 2686
E-mail: [email protected]
