KOTA KINABALU: The state-Level Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan (UNK) 2022 committee has lodged a police report over a social media post which was accused of insulting and disparaging the recently-concluded Unduk Ngadau pageant and Kaamatan festival.
Committee chairperson Joanna Kitingan said the remarks, which were posted on Facebook, were "offensive and obscene" towards Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Rungus (KDMR) women.
A screengrab of the post was subsequently shared on other social media platforms, sparking anger among the KDMR community.
She said the post was also insulting to "Huminodun", who is traditionally revered by the native community as a deity who had sacrificed herself to save the people.
"The posting is indescribable. It contained very derogatory remarks. It is something that we cannot take lightly because the remarks degraded the KDMR people's dignity and culture.
"This person either wants attention or wants to provoke the KDMR people... I don't know. What we can do is to follow the law," she said, adding that such an action would also warrant a "sogit" (a fine under native law).
She was speaking to the New Straits Times after lodging the report at the Penampang police station today.
Joanna, who is also the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) women council chairperson, also urged the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to look into the case.
"The police report serves as a warning to anyone in Sabah against insulting any race or custom that has existed in harmony for hundreds of years," she said, adding that this was not the first time such an incident has happened.
She said the committee would be discussing the next step with their lawyers.
A similar police report was also lodged today by the KDCA Youth Council chairman Steve Johnny Mositun over the same issue.
Last month, both Joanna and Steve had filed police reports over another alleged insulting remark on Facebook concerning the KDMR's culture and customs.
Meanwhile, the reigning Unduk Ngadau, Frenerietta Sobitun, expressed hope that those who insulted the KDMR culture and customs would be subjected to appropriate action by the relevant authorities.