KOTA KINABALU – An apology does not cut it for the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), which has lodged a police report against lawyer Marcel Jude Joseph, who ignited public furore after calling the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan cultural pageant an “exotic cattle show”.
Representing 40 ethnic groups in Sabah, KDCA was at the Penampang police station about 3pm today despite the apology tendered by Jude yesterday.
The report was made by the organisation’s secretary-general, Suman Yasambun, who was accompanied by chairman of its women’s council, Joanna Kitingan, and youth council chairman Steve Johnny Mositun.
Yasambun in a statement said the court submission by Jude clearly indicates a form of provocation towards Kadazandusun Murut and Rungus (KDMR) communities, and can be construed as an insult to them.
“KDCA has received reports from all KDMR communities on the lawyer’s statement, and they demanded that KDCA take action against the lawyer.
“There are about 40 ethnic groups under KDCA, and they comprise communities of various cultures – peace-loving and harmonious, and never posing a threat to other races in Sabah.”
He also condemned the sexual harassment controversy surrounding a Sabah politician in relation to the pageant, adding that the event this year is a “dark chapter”.
“Even before the charges in court are over, the lawyer has already issued such a statement as this.”
In Jude’s written submission, he compared the pageant to “nothing more than an exotic cattle show, and (it) almost feels like an auction”.
“Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan is a throwback to a former period when women were only objects of desire to be paraded around in an extravagant pet show.”
Yasambun said: “We want police to conduct a thorough investigation and take action against the man behind the court submission, which is an attempt to anger KDMR communities. Public peace can be disrupted if the matter does not come under control.”
In response to the pageant’s organisers, Jude said he did not mention such words in court, but is unable to withdraw his submission. – The Vibes, June 14, 2021
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