KOTA KINABALU: The state government has been urged to cancel the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant, which is part of the Kaamatan harvest festival and for the RM150,000 prize money to put to other uses such as helping those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
A member of the KadazanDusun Murut Cultural Association (KDCA), Johnny Mositun, said he had received numerous calls from people expressing concern over the staging of the contest.
“The decision of the organisers to continue with the cultural event must have been made without taking into consideration the views of the majority of the people,” he said today.
An online petition has also been launched to stop the holding of the beauty contest and has drawn more than 2,600 signatures.
The online petition against the contest was launched by an internet user called “K-tik Boshen”. The petition urges the state government to call off the beauty pageant, which is a highlight of the month-long Kaamatan harvest festival.
“Kaamatan is more than the Unduk Ngadau competition,” he said. “In this time of Covid-19 pandemic, we did not stop to celebrate Kaamatan just because we did not have any Unduk Ngadau competition.”
He said the prize money should be spent on other projects such as improving internet access for students in remote areas, or preservation of the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut culture.
Some 2,600 people had signed the petition since it was launched yesterday.
Kaamatan organising chairman Peter Anthony said yesterday that the final of the singing competition would be aired live on May 30 and the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant on May 31 at the KDCA hall. - FMT
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