Phillip Among’s lawyer issues apology for ‘exotic cattle’ Unduk Ngadau remark

KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah lawyer behind the “exotic cattle” uproar has issued an apology. 

Marcel Jude Joseph, one of the counsels in the sexual assault case involving a Sabah politician, has apologised for the “relevant parts” of the court submission he prepared. 

“I therefore make this sincere apology to all Unduk Ngadaus throughout Malaysia from the beginning of the Unduk Ngadau until the year 2021. 

“I, sincerely and genuinely extend my apology to each and every member of the state Kaamatan organising committee and to all previous members of the state Kaamatan committees since the inception of the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant. 

“Also sincerely and genuinely extend the apology to each and every person of the Kadazan Dusun, Murut and Rungus people of Sabah,” said Jude, who also extended his apology to all those involved in the cultural pageant. 

The unsigned apology from Jude went viral on social media and many WhatsApp groups around midnight.  

In a response to Unduk Ngadau organising committee chairperson Joanna Kitingan, Jude said while he apologised for the remark and that he never mentioned it in court, he was not able to withdraw the written statement from court. 

“She can check this with the people who are there, the public prosecutor, the reporters, the police officers and the lawyers or she can also check the audio tapes for the proceedings if there is any.

“As for the withdrawal of the written submission, I regret this cannot be done for the following reasons, which among others that the bail application is res judicata which it had been decided by the court and therefore cannot be revisited again unless if there is an appeal or an intervening application,” he said, adding that the matter also cannot be re-litigated.

The written court submission that Jude submitted to the magistrate court had gone viral and drew condemnation from various women and indigenous groups. 

The controversial submission statement read: 

“The UNK (Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan) contest is not about women, it is just a contest, it doesn’t incorporate all women, whatever their talents and skills and education and abilities but it is nothing more than an exotic cattle show and almost feel like an auction show.”

Sabah Star secretary-general Datuk Guandee Kohoi yesterday in denying Jude represented the party as its lawyer, urged him to provide an explanation for the remarks, stating that the party is now mulling to expel him as a Sabah Star member. – The Vibes, June 13, 2021