After three days of walking, some 80 activists were given a heroes welcome after their 60km march from Tambunan to Pagansakan to raise awareness about clean elections and indigenous rights.
According to Andrew Ambrose, a key figure in the "Idle No More" march, some 600 people were in Pagansakan to greet the group at the finish line at 2pm today.
"We are all tired but we were revitalised upon seeing the big crowd. We even danced the sumazau to celebrate our achievement," Ambrose told Malaysiakini.
Apart from supporters and community leaders, the group was also greeted by politicians from both sides of the political divide.
Among others were Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Bernard Dompok, Sabah DAP secretary Dr Edwin Bosi and Penampang PKR division wanita chief Jennifer Lasimbang.
According to Andrew Ambrose, a key figure in the "Idle No More" march, some 600 people were in Pagansakan to greet the group at the finish line at 2pm today.
"We are all tired but we were revitalised upon seeing the big crowd. We even danced the sumazau to celebrate our achievement," Ambrose told Malaysiakini.
Apart from supporters and community leaders, the group was also greeted by politicians from both sides of the political divide.
Among others were Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Bernard Dompok, Sabah DAP secretary Dr Edwin Bosi and Penampang PKR division wanita chief Jennifer Lasimbang.
Police threats
A short ceremony was held to hand 22 scrolls containing the "Idle No More" declaration to Penampang community leaders.
The declaration had touched on the group's demands for good governance, environmental protection, indigenous rights and a proper electoral process.
"We want those 22 recipients to mobilise their people to work towards the issues raised in the declaration," said Ambrose.
On the reaction from the police throughout the march, Ambrose said the Penampang district police chief Ratan Singh Kumar had opposed to the march, but the group pressed on.
"The participants unanimously reject the police threats and wanted to continue," he said, adding that the police have issued them two written warnings.
However, the police did not pose any obstacles, he said.
A short ceremony was held to hand 22 scrolls containing the "Idle No More" declaration to Penampang community leaders.
The declaration had touched on the group's demands for good governance, environmental protection, indigenous rights and a proper electoral process.
"We want those 22 recipients to mobilise their people to work towards the issues raised in the declaration," said Ambrose.
On the reaction from the police throughout the march, Ambrose said the Penampang district police chief Ratan Singh Kumar had opposed to the march, but the group pressed on.
"The participants unanimously reject the police threats and wanted to continue," he said, adding that the police have issued them two written warnings.
However, the police did not pose any obstacles, he said.
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