PENAMPANG: The Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) is deliberating on the action to be taken against an Unduk Ngadau winner over a controversial video that sparked outrage among netizens.
The winner won the title at one of KDCA branches in the peninsula last year.
The KDCA branch's reigning queen recently posted a holiday video on social media. In the two-minute and 59-second video, she could be seen interacting with male workers who danced suggestively at a popular restaurant in Thailand.
State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan organising chairman Joanna Datuk Kitingan said she had asked the relevant KDCA branch coordinator to contact the winner and later learnt that the winner had submitted an apology letter.
However, Joanna said that damage had been done, and the State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan Committee was asked to prepare a report for the Council of Elders.
"We are still in the consultation process as it concerns our culture and customs.
"We will prepare a report on the matter to be submitted to the KDCA Council of Elders for further action," she said after chairing the briefing session for Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan coordinators at the Hongkod Koisaan KDCA here yesterday.
"Last year, we did a talk where we reminded the winners only to post something positive to highlight the image of Unduk Ngadau.
"Unduk Ngadau is more than just a title. It is something serious, and it is about Huminodun and her sacrifices."
To this end, the State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan Organising Committee, beginning this year, has made it compulsory for district, sub-district or KDCA branch winners to sign an agreement upon winning the crowns.
The winner must promise not to be involved in any criminal activity or commit any offence that can tarnish her image, including through her social media posts.
In the event she breaks any of her promises in the agreement, she must give up her title and hand over her crown to the organiser.
The Unduk Ngadau competition is a cultural beauty pageant and one of the month-long Kaamatan festival highlights in Sabah.
The pageant is not merely to select a beautiful young maiden, but a woman from the Kadazan Dusun Rungus Murut community, who is able to manifest the beauty, grace, wisdom and kindness that the legend Huminodun symbolises.
Huminodun, as the legend says, was sacrificed by her father, Kinoingan, to save the people from famine to bring about a bountiful harvest.
Joanna said, beginning this year, all district-level competition judges should attend the Unduk Ngadau judging workshop held by the State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan Organising Committee.
"We have conducted such workshops since 2018 and have trained many people. The state committee will provide a list of certified judges to district coordinators," said Joanna.
The briefing session was conducted both on-site and online. More than 20 district coordinators attended it physically.
They were briefed on the latest rules, regulations, and information about the cultural pageant.