‘District Council inhouse Kaamatan necessary’

Published on: Sunday, June 23, 2019

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Most of us think May 31 is the end of all Harvest Festival celebration in Sabah. But Penampang District Council believes that the Kaamatan spirit is still “very much in the air” come June, so it did something historic, not done for years – an inhouse Pesta Kaamatan of its own, said Councillor and Organising Chairman, Freddy Ekol.

“The Councillors mooted the idea during a full council meeting and I was unanimously chosen to be the organising chairman. I thought it was a good idea too, because as far as I can remember there had not been any Kaamatan organised by the Council,” Ekol told Daily Express.

“So this celebration is necessary and will be celebrated every year to say ‘thank you’ to all the hardworking staff for the good services rendered to the tax payers and community in general,” he said.

“The programmes were tailor-made such as a local native food and karaoke competitions and, of course, Unduk Ngadau.”

A crowd of top former Unduk Ngadau

Former Unduk Ngdau 2008, Leonie Lawrence Gontuni, who helped out on the choreography of Unduk Ngadau, agreed with Ekol: “It is a good thing because it helps to draw everybody working for the council closer.”

In fact, one may say the presence of a crowd of top former Unduk Ngadau raised the event’s prestige.

Mandy Nandu, State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2005, winner Miss Sabah 2007, Miss Earth Malaysia 2009, was the chief judge, assisted by Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2004 Fharelynne Ivonne Henry plus Mr Kaamatan Penang 2008, Albert Oliver, a PhD holder in Psychology Management, who sat among the panel of judges.

District Officer: It’s about culture

Is it important, Daily Express asked District Officer Henry Idol who by virtue of his position is automatically the Chairman Council Chairman?

“It’s not about importance. It’s culture and if there is a Kaamatan there is an Unduk Ngadau. It is mandatory and this is a Councillors’ effort, it is not on the schedule of the Council but if they want it every year, it’s up to them, to me there is no problem.”

The winner-graduate in chemistry

The seven Unduk Ngadau finalists were: Calsie Rachel Clarence, Dorna Mayra Michael, Nellie Mordino, Natasha Mae Aubrey, Ketty Velantina William and Crystell Esyer Kim Lee.

The winner or Unduk Ngadau is university graduate in chemistry Calsie Rachel Clarence, first-runner-up Dorna Mayra Michael, a tourism student and second runner-up, Deborah Wilson.

In the Local Native Food competition, Theresa Joinon won first prize in the Hinava Section; Juliana Aloi won the Pinasakan sada Section while Jeffreynus James was the champion in the Sayur Section.

In the Karoake competition, the man with a powerful voice, Gilbert S Lojungin took the crown, followed by Junna Jonimin who sang like a pro and in third place, Mohd Shahnil Nizam bin Mohd Arni.

DO Henry Idol said he was happy with the success.

“Everybody enjoyed it. Even though we celebrated it on a weekday, the turnout was okay,” he said.