UPKO WOMEN SLAM MARCEL JUDE OVER DISRESPECTFUL REMARKS ON UNDUK NGADAU

Mohina Sidom

12 June 2021

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KOTA KINABALU: UPKO Kinabatangan Division Women Chief Mohina Sidom condemned the defence lawyer of Philip Among for comparing the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant which is conducted yearly during the Kaamatan Festival to “an exotic cattle show”.

In the bail statement, counsel Marcel Jude regarded the contest as "a project of vanity and the essence of body shaming" and "nothing more than an exotic cattle show and almost feel like an auction show".

“Marcel Jude went on lengths about educated, independent and successful women, but continued saying that when it comes to women who participated in Unduk Ngadau contest, he had no empathy at all.

“He forgot that a woman who participates in a beauty pageant is still a woman, someone who still deserves respect as any other woman.

“While I am fully aware of the fact that we are currently in a pandemic and people are struggling in all aspects of their lives, it is not an excuse to sweep sexual harassment issue under the rug,” she said in her statement today.

Mohina added that she assumes the lawyer has little knowledge about the event as he is not part of the Kadazandusun Murut and Rungus (KDMR) community.

“Needless to say, the beauty contest is held annually to commemorate Huminodun, the maiden who was of total beauty of the heart, mind, and soul. It is a tradition that has been practised for generations, inherited from our forefathers.

“To say that the women in Unduk Ngadau are not as outstanding as other women are such a derogatory and humiliating remark, not just for KDMR community, but to women as a whole,” she stated, also stressing that the contest is not and will never be about the portrayal of women as objects.

These outrageous statements were made by an irresponsible individual meant to steer and provoke the people from the real issue, she added.

“Let’s not forget, wasn’t the accused, a part of the whole organising committee himself? So basically, the accused himself has played such an active role in this so-called ‘cattle show’?

“The case has always been about a woman who was sexually harassed by a politician whom we’ve entrusted to carry out his duty, but instead has been taking advantages of his position by harassing and assaulting young and vulnerable girls.

“The people’s uproar would still be the same regardless of whether Unduk Ngadau contest was held at all. We are not glorifying Unduk Ngadau contest, we are simply demanding justice for the victims involved,” Mohina emphasised.