BEAUFORT: Villagers of Kg Viging in Bongawan broke into smiles and giggles when Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal greeted them in the Dusun language during his campaign speech on Tuesday (Jan 7).

He said 'Kopivosian' (hello) and asked them how they were, whether all was good (avasi) before starting his speech.

The villagers responded with smiles and laughter.

Shafie, who is Parti Warisan Sabah president, had among other things, asked the people to vote for Warisan's candidate Datuk Karim Bujang.

He said Warisan was a local-based party and was the only one that could really help Sabah, unlike Barisan Nasional or PBS who had been in power for a long time until recently.

The Chief Minister was in Kg Viging not only to help Karim's campaign but to attend a Christmas and New Year party organised by the villages in Bongawan.

Before Shafie spoke, Datuk Peter Anthony, Warisan's vice president, also used the native Dusun language to speak with villagers.

The villagers were more responsive when their mother tongue was used.

A villager Antang Baing, 64, said he felt happy when politicians speak their native tongue.

He said it felt more warm and genuine although he realised that not all of them understood the native languages of Sabah.

Another, Sariah Muin, 59, said although it was just a word or two, or short sentences, listening to politicians speaking Dusun was refreshing.

"It feels like we are from the same family or same community," she said.