Fifty-one to compete in this year's Unduk Ngadau
Published on: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Published on: Thu, May 22, 2025 Text Size: Joanna (fifth from right) presenting a memento to Toh Puan Faridah. Kota Kinabalu: Fifty-one beauties nationwide will be competing in this year's Unduk Ngadau in conjunction with the Kaamatan Festival on May 30 and 31. Chairperson of the Women's Council of the Kadazandusun Murut Malaysia Organisation (KDCA), Tindarama Datuk Joanna Datuk Kitingan, said preparations are underway for the 65th edition of the contest. She was speaking after paying a call on the wife of Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Toh Puan Faridah Tussin, Wednesday. The visit was to introduce the organising committee members and extend a formal invitation to Toh Puan Faridah to attend the Sodop Pintutunan on May 28 , as well as the grand final on May 31. Joanna said a variety of engaging programmes have been lined up for Unduk Ngadau Week that will begin on May 26. 'These include the traditional Sodop Pintutunan, where the symbolic chest will be handed over to the finalists by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
Advertisement 'On May 27, the finalists will visit Sabah Museum to explore the State's cultural heritage and take part in traditional activities such as gong-beating and preparing ethnic dishes like 'hinava' and 'tuhau',' she said. In the afternoon, participants will also attend a screening of the Culture, Agro-tourism and Nature (CAAN) competition, officiated by Datuk Joniston Bangkuai. The Sodop Unduk Ngadau banquet and the ethnic costume competition are scheduled for May 28, before the final crowning ceremony on May 31 at the Hongkod Koisaan Hall, KDCA. Co-Chairperson Dr Mary Gambidau said the competition has consistently served as a platform for young Sabahan women to develop their talents in various fields, including tourism, entrepreneurship, public speaking and performing arts. 'It has opened many doors for these women to pursue bigger opportunities and elevate Sabah's name at national and international levels,' she said. She also noted that 70 tables have been booked for the Sodop Unduk Ngadau dinner, but gallery tickets priced at RM30 are still available for the public. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Miss Universe Malaysia's journey beyond the spotlight
Published on: Wednesday, June 04, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 04, 2025 By: Ricardo Unto Text Size: Lim in two sets of traditional attire – Murut and Lundayeh. PENAMPANG: When Miss Universe Malaysia 2024 Sandra Lim touched down in Sabah to join this year's Kaamatan festivities, few expected the reigning queen to blend so seamlessly into the cultural spirit of the Harvest Festival. But for the 25-year-old beauty queen and proud Malaysian, it was not just another appearance – it was a deeply personal journey of learning, connecting, and celebrating the richness of Sabah's indigenous heritage. Attending the State-level Kaamatan Festival from May 29 to 31, Lim made headlines not just for her title but for donning traditional outfits from various ethnic groups – Murut, Lundayeh and Kadazan – and even sporting the iconic 'sanggul gong' during the State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan (UNK) finals, a hairstyle synonymous with the cultural pageant. 'It gives me so much joy and pride to wear these traditional garments, carrying the beautiful history of our people in Sabah,' she said, visibly moved in one of her Instagram posts. 'The efforts by the organisers to preserve and showcase these cultures are incredibly inspiring.' Lim's Kaamatan experience was not a mere photo opportunity. From cheering finalists at the Randawi Tavantang Kaamatan (RTK) male pageant to dancing with the crowd at the KDCA hall, she immersed herself in every beat, every bite and every banner. 'The music, the dance, the food, the people – the experience of a lifetime. 'Thank you for welcoming me with such warmth and love. Makan-makan, menari bersama-sama, bringing me in like family,' she posted after her walkabout at the KDCA Hongkod Koisaan ground on May 30. Having competed on the world stage just months earlier in Mexico, where she placed in the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2024 – Malaysia's best result in over half a century – Lim found unexpected resonance in Sabah's homegrown pageantry scene. 'The whole vibe brought me back to my first international competition in Indonesia. Everyone was so packed and so passionate,' she recalled when met after the UNK 2025 crowning. Observing the Unduk Ngadau finalists, Lim shared how the magic of pageantry often shines brightest onstage. 'You only see the X-factor when they walk out – the way they carry themselves, talk, smile. 'The winner (Tamparuli's Atitih Yati Robert) was my pick from the start,' she smiled, proving her eye for talent remains sharp. Lim, who holds a degree in mass communications and has a background in martial arts and modelling, is no stranger to hard work. Her recent success in Miss Universe 2024, where she dazzled judges with a wushu routine in a national costume inspired by Princess Walinong Sari, brought her international acclaim. Yet back home, it is her groundedness that endears her most. 'I think the whole of Malaysia should learn from Sabah. 'The passion here, the meaning behind every culture – that is something we should carry into our future,' she said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Austrian daily under fire after Clint Eastwood slams ‘phony' interview
Published on: Wednesday, June 04, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 04, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: In the interview, which was picked up widely by American media over the weekend, Eastwood criticises a lack of fresh ideas in the current film industry as 'we live in an era of remakes and franchises'. - AFP pic VIENNA: An Austrian newspaper came under fire Tuesday after Hollywood star Clint Eastwood said an alleged interview with him published by the paper to mark his 95th birthday was 'entirely phony'. The row was sparked by a purported interview with the Oscar-winning actor and director carried by the German-language Kurier newspaper Friday. In the interview, which was picked up widely by American media over the weekend, Eastwood criticises a lack of fresh ideas in the current film industry as 'we live in an era of remakes and franchises'. 'I long for the good old days when screenwriters wrote films like 'Casablanca' in small bungalows on the studio lot. When everyone had a new idea,' he was quoted as saying. 'My philosophy is, do something new or stay at home,' it adds. In a statement to Deadline magazine published Monday, Eastwood said 'I thought I would set the record straight'. 'I can confirm I've turned 95. I can also confirm that I never gave an interview to an Austrian publication called Kurier, or any other writer in recent weeks, and that the interview is entirely phony,' he added. On Tuesday evening, the editorial team of the Vienna-based Kurier said its freelancer Elisabeth Sereda had compiled the interview by citing from 'a total of 18' round table conversations with Eastwood. But since the article was published as an interview and not as a profile, the daily said it would cut ties with the author. 'Even though no quotes have been fabricated, the interviews are documented and the allegations of falsification can be refuted, we will not be working with the author in the future because transparency and our strict editorial standards are paramount to us,' Kurier said in a statement published on its website. The newspaper had recently published interviews by Sereda with celebrities such as Jude Law and Elton John. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
a day ago
- Daily Express
Cultural grace over global glitz, says Unduk Ngadau organiser
Published on: Tuesday, June 03, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 03, 2025 By: Ricardo Unto Text Size: Joanna (right) and Mary PENAMPANG: Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan (UNK) should remain rooted in tradition and elegance, and not be swayed by the flashy presentation styles of international beauty pageants, said Datuk Joanna Kitingan. Responding to public reaction, the State UNK 2025 co-chair said she was shocked by the finalists' loud self-introductions at the May 28 Gala Night, calling it a break from the pageant's 65-year tradition. 'In our pageant, an Unduk is not just beautiful but graceful, gentle yet empowered – there is no need to shout or perform,' she said, adding that the traditional introduction style was about conveying poise, cultural pride and inner strength. She clarified the unexpected change had not been communicated during rehearsals, and both she and fellow co-chair Mary Gambidau were visibly stunned when it unfolded live. 'I turned to Mary and said, this is not Unduk,' she shared, expressing concern that the cultural pageant was being diluted by attempts to modernise it to fit global trends. Joanna warned that embracing such performative styles lowers the standard of a cultural event that was founded on deep belief systems and Indigenous identity. 'Look at the bobolians – their strength lies in spiritual power, not volume; that is what we want our Unduks to reflect,' she said, referring to Sabah's traditional ritual leaders. She stressed that while other pageants focus on glamour and spectacle, Unduk Ngadau celebrates modesty, heritage, and the role of women as cultural torchbearers. While some netizens supported the new approach, especially those more familiar with global pageantry, the majority of traditionalists felt the event had veered off course. It was also understood that some finalists confided they felt uncomfortable and embarrassed about the style of introduction but were compelled to comply with the format imposed on them. Joanna reiterated her commitment to restoring the pageant's original spirit next year, ensuring it reflects the unique grace and dignity that has defined Unduk Ngadau since its inception. 'We have already set the trend 65 years ago,' she said, vowing to uphold the cultural values that make the pageant unlike any other. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
