One of the weirdest things I have seen Kadazan elders take offence to is the insinuation from West Malaysians that it is a liquor drinking festival. I'm referring to Datuk IR John Anthony nya 2017 article. A big part of Kaamatan is in fact the moginakan ritual. https://twitter.com/BeeBalan/status/1263810977059012609

Moginakan which means sacred feasting and drinking involves a lot of drinking. No denying this. I think sometimes people are ashamed to admit this. But maybe it's because people don't understand the spiritual significance of drinking, seeing it as a profane act. But it is not.

Drinking rituals are symbolic of celebration. A drinking culture is actually a very welcoming culture because in the sharing of strong spirits, the people reaffirm a sense of community. They are in fact sacred rituals.

A drinking culture is also one that opens its arms to other communities. A time for reconciliation between former enemies. Drinking gives an excuse for members of other communities to partake in the revelry.

The Sumerians, if they were cold sober when they decided that it would be strategically clever to beat up the Babylonians, they held off and said, "First let's drink some wine."

Drunk, they might come to the conclusion that "there's no need to go to war with them. Hell, we love the Babylonians." https://twitter.com/SurenVynn/status/1156967279428546561?s=19

This ability to let your hair down and let loose is sorely missing in modern interpretations of the significance of drinking in these festivals. Few things build rapport with your loved ones than getting drunk in merriment with them.

I can't stress this enough, but drinking and the culture of monginum is what binds people of different backgrounds together. This is nothing less a sacred spiritual act.