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New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Tamparuli lass Atitih is this year's Unduk Ngadau
PENAMPANG: Atitih Yatih Robert was crowned Sabah's Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan for this year at the Hongkod Koisaan KDCA Hall, Penampang, here. The 26-year-old, who represented the Tamparuli district, brought home RM17,500 in cash, a crown, a trophy, scholarships and sponsored items. Clad in the traditional Dusun Tenghilan attire, Pinialap, she wowed the judges during the question and answer session when she responded fluently in the Dusun language to two questions. Present to crown the new Unduk Ngadau was the wife of Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Toh Puan Faridah Tussin. First runner-up went to Elka Alika Pijeh, representing Tambunan, while Celarin Jenny, representing Kiulu, took third place. The two took home RM13,000 and RM10,500 respectively, along with other sponsored items. In fourth place was Rini Aswanda Jukilin (Beluran), followed by Steavaynie Ginadus (Beaufort) in fifth, Jenylin Janis (Ranau) in sixth, and Evanatie Sannie (Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu) in seventh. They received RM8,000; RM6,000; RM5,000; and RM4,000 respectively, as well as scholarships and other sponsored items. A total of 51 Kadazandusun beauties from across Sabah and Kadazan KDCA branches participated in this year's competition. The Unduk Ngadau pageant is one of the Kaamatan highlights, celebrating Huminodun, a maiden who was sacrificed by her father, Kinoingan, to save the people from famine and bring about a bountiful harvest.
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Tamparuli's Atitih Yatie Robert 2025 Sabah State Level Unduk Ngadau
Atitih (centre) flanked by Elka (left) and Celarin. PENAMPANG (May 31): Tamparuli Unduk Ngadau Atitih Yatie Robert is the 2025 Sabah State Level Unduk Ngadau. She beat 50 other aspiring contestants for the title at the Penampang Hongkod Koisaan on Saturday night. As the newly crowned queen, she brings home RM17,500 in cash prize, the 2025 Sabah State Level Unduk Ngadau crown, a trophy, a specially handcrafted beaded sash, a North Borneo University College (NBUC) scholaship worth RM35,000, ATI scholarship, skincare, haircare, a year supply of rice from Sazarice, return air ticket to South Korea sponsored by Trippo and others. During the first session of the question and answer session, Atitih was asked about making chocolate and she replied in fluent Dusun that she visited the Cocoa Fair at the Sabah International Convention Centre a few days ago and participated in chocolate making. She joked that her chocolate did not win anything but everyone ate it until there was none left, which left all those in the hall bursting our laughing. During the top-seven general knowledge question and answer which carried 20 points, she was asked about the significance of the 'Magavau' ceremony to the KDMR (Kadazan Dusun Murut Rungus) people and she replied that the ceremony was conducted to ensure all proceeded well during a ceremony such as the Kaamatan. Tambunan Unduk Ngadau Elka Alika Pijeh is first runner-up. She brings home a cash prize of RM13,000 and a trophy, a NBUC scholarship worth RM30,000, and one year of rice supply from Sazarice, skincare and haircare, and sponsored items. The second runner-up title went to Kiulu Unduk Ngadau, Celarin Jenny. She wins RM10,500 in cash, a NBUC scholaship worth RM20,000, one year supply of rice from Sazarice, and three-day and two-night stay at Taman Badukan Riverside Resort and others. Meanwhile, Beluran Unduk Ngadau Rini Aswanda Jukilin won the fourth placing which came with a RM8,000 cash prize, scholarship and others. Fifth place went to Unduk Ngadau Beaufort, Steavaynie Ginadus who won RM6,000 cash, a scholarship and other sponsored items. Ranau Unduk Ngadau Jenylin Janis came sixth and won RM5,000, scholarship and other sponsored items. Bandaraya Unduk Ngadau, Evanatie Sannie wins seventh place and brings home RM4,000 cash, a scholarship and other sponsored items. Meanwhile, the Miss Popular Vote Video C. A. N. went to KDCA Klang Valley, Norasnih Madjalan with 2,247 likes, winning her RM1,000 cash. The Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah, Tun Musa Aman, officiated the closing of the State-level Kaamatan Festival 2025 at Hongkod Koisaan KDCA on Saturday. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had earlier officiated the opening at the same venue on Friday. Kinabatangan was the only Sabah district that did not take part in the contest this year.
The Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Discover the rural charms of Sabah's cool district, Tambunan
Often, the mention of Sabah conjures up the image of its natural wonders. Rightfully so, as the Land Below The Wind does boast a wide array of flora and fauna. Typically, tourists head straight to Kundasang in the Ranau district for its temperate climate and for Mount Kinabalu – to catch a view of the looming mountain, if not to scale the peak. Roughly 60km from the said district is one that tourists, especially those from out of state, might have never considered visiting: Tambunan. While often overshadowed by its 'cooler' neighbour, Tambunan has no trouble holding its own when it comes to nature and culture. It may be set on a lower elevation than Kundasang, but it still boasts colder weather compared to the lowlands, making it a cool escape from the tropical heat. This year, the spotlight shines on Tambunan as it plays host to Sabah's annual Harvest Festival or Kaamatan. A celebration of bountiful harvest, Kaamatan is also a time when both locals and tourists can fully appreciate the state's melting pots of culture. The Dusun people of Tambunan celebrate Kaamatan every May. — FIFY JOSEPH/Wikimedia Commons As is the norm, the districts in Sabah take turn to host the festival each year. The host's duties include holding the Kaamatan launch on May 1, marking the start of the month-long festivities throughout Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan. The grand finale is then held on May 30 and 31 at Hongkod Koisaan KDCA in Penampang. Themed 'Kaamatan For All', or 'Kaamatan Montok Toinsanan' in the Kadazandusun language, this year's festival was launched at Pisompuruan Square, in the Tambunan district's eponymous town. It may be too late to join in the Kaamatan festivities this year (mark your calendar for next May!), but anytime is a good time to discover the rural charms of Sabah. So, why not hop on a plane and kickstart your Sabahan adventure in Tambunan? Locals and tourists alike are mesmerised by the musical sound of Tambunan's Batu Gong. — Batu Gong/Facebook Pisompuruan Square Located in the Tambunan town, Pisompuruan Square alternatively goes by Tamu Ground, due to the tamu (market) that's held weekly here. Every Thursday, the square comes alive with vendors selling everything from fresh produce to traditional delicacies. You can get local products here, in turn helping support the local community. Walking around the square, you might notice a plaque stating Tugu Tambunan Memorial. It marks an area where the Tambunan Unity Stone stands – though perhaps more eye-catching are the statues of two warriors right next to it. The Unity Stone marks the unification of the Gombunan and Tamadon tribes, and the warriors immortalised here were of the said tribes. Legend has it that after forming an alliance with each other, the two tribes christened their shared settlement with an amalgamation of their tribe names. Thus, the birth of Tambunan – 'Tam' from Tamadon and 'bunan' from Gombunan. Since the Kaamatan launch was held at Pisompuruan Square, let's use this as the point of reference for how far the other suggested attractions are from the town. Batu Gong emits sounds like a traditional gong when struck. — Filepic Batu Gong Also known as Turu Miadi (Seven Siblings), Batu Gong is one of nature's most unique offerings. Typically when a rock is struck, it makes a dull thud. Not this one – this rock resonates same as a gong would. Gong is a traditional musical instrument made of brass or bronze, hence the Batu Gong or 'gong rock' moniker. According to the information found at the site housing the unique rock, it was excavated during a river straightening project at Sungai Pegalan in 1995. But its musical disposition was only discovered rather by accident not long after, by a group of children enjoying a dip in the river. It was while playing on the rock that they noted the unexpected sound it made. The villagers of Kampung Solibog decided to relocate the rock into a hut in order to protect and preserve it. Eventually, it became a tourist attraction in the village. Due to its growing popularity, it underwent another relocation in 2022. This time it was to a bigger riverside site that can welcome more visitors. The new site, called Ekopelancongan Nagas Komuniti Kg Solibog (Batu Gong), is accessible via a roughly 10-minute car ride from town. Rafflesia pricei is the species commonly found at Tambunan's Rafflesia Information Centre. — Sabah Forestry Department/Facebook Rafflesia Information Centre There is probably no parasitic plant more revered than the stinking corpse lily – better known as rafflesia. Recognised as the world's largest flowering plant, it is found only in South-East Asia. Sabah is home to three species, two of which are rare and endemic to the state. Rafflesia tengku-adlinii and Rafflesia keithii are the harder species to come by, although the latter has been spotted at the Rafflesia Information Centre, which is located about half an hour by car from town. The more commonly found species at this centre is Rafflesia pricei. With rafflesia being the state's official flower, the Sabah Forestry Department naturally keeps a close eye on it and posts regular updates on social media when it is in bloom. This is especially helpful to avoid disappointment for anyone hoping to witness the massive flower in person, since it does have a relatively short blooming period – lasting only around five days. This centre is perfect if you're not keen on trekking deep into the wilderness. There is already an established trail here, some parts in concrete, making the 20-minute trek to see the blooming flowers relatively easier. Fun fact: Despite rafflesias' notoriety as a foul-smelling plant, not all species actually emit the offensive stench. Rafflesia pricei is among these fairly odourless species. That's another plus point for visiting the centre! Kampung Tikolod is great for water outings, as it is home to Kirongulad Waterfall and Sungai Tikolod. — Sabah Tourism Board website Kirongulad Waterfall Now, if you are the type who's willing to trek deep – very deep – into the jungle, a refreshing reward awaits you. It comes in the form of a cascading body of water that will make your hours-long journey worth every second. The trip to Kirongulad Waterfall kicks off from Kampung Tikolod, a village about half an hour away from town. From the village, a 3km stretch of dirt road traversable by four-wheel drives will take you to the trek's starting point. This is where the real adventure begins. The almost 5km trek from here will even involve walking through padi fields and plenty of wading through streams. Be prepared to get wet long before reaching the waterfall. Despite its more impressive height of 30m, Kirongulad Waterfall doesn't get as much mention as Mahua Waterfall, the 17m-tall cascade that takes its name from the Tambunan village it's located in. This likely stems from accessibility, since Mahua doesn't take a strenuous journey to reach. If you still want to experience the cool waters of Kampung Tikolod but minus the arduous trek, then head to Kintup Recreation Park (TRK). Here you can swim in Sungai Tikolod or try the 'fish spa', where tiny fish will nibble ticklishly on your soaking feet. The three-deck Sinurambi Tambunan offers panoramic views of Tambunan. — Filepic Sinurambi Tambunan Set atop Trig Hill at 877m above sea level is the viewing point, Sinurambi Tambunan. Launched in conjunction with Visit Tambunan Year 2017, the hilltop attraction is less than 30 minutes away from town. It features an interesting shape that takes inspiration from wakid , the traditional bamboo basket used by the Dusun people. The three stacked decks incorporated into the design of the 14m-high tower are meant to accommodate visitors' varying degrees of comfort with height. The first deck is suitable for those who are comfortable being not more than 3m off the ground. The second deck, at 6m, offers better view for those who can handle the height. But many may still prefer the top deck, as it does offer the best vantage point with its height of 9.15m. You can climb this tower to get a sweeping view of not only Tambunan but also Mount Kinabalu, which can be admired from the viewing point on clear days.
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Better Unduk Ngadau judging system
Published on: Friday, May 30, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 30, 2025 By: Ricardi Unto Text Size: Joanna (right) explained that the format of the competition remains unchanged, beginning with 51 finalists before narrowing down to 15 and finally selecting the top 7, with two rounds of question-and-answer (Q&A) segments. Kota Kinabalu: The State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan (UNK) final judging session this year will be improved with the aid of a computerised scoring system and language interpreters, the organisers said recently. State UNK co-chairperson Datuk Joanna Kitingan, during the registration on Monday, said a new computerised scoring system would be introduced for the grand finals on May 31, with hopes it would streamline the process and allow results to be announced earlier, ideally by 5.30pm or 6pm. She added that this year's panel will consist of seven judges - an increase from the usual five. Joanna explained that the format of the competition remains unchanged, beginning with 51 finalists before narrowing down to 15 and finally selecting the top 7, with two rounds of question-and-answer (Q&A) segments. 'In the first Q&A for the top 15, finalists will be required to answer in their mother tongue or native languages, while the second Q&A for the top 7 will be judged on content, accuracy, and confidence,' she said. State UNK co-chairperson Mary Gambidau said the inclusion of interpreters for Lundayeh and Murut languages was a direct response to suggestions from netizens calling for more equitable judging in the final rounds. Advertisement 'At this time, we are only providing interpreters for Lundayeh and Murut because Kadazan and Dusun are widely understood by most judges who are fluent in these languages,' she said. She emphasised that the interpreters will be independent professionals, not part of the organising committee, to ensure impartiality and accurate translation during the Q&A sessions. Mary also revealed that a dedicated and credible question committee, consisting of experts in the Kadazan Dusun language, was formed this year to draft thoughtful and culturally relevant questions. 'We hope the questions this year will be better,' she said. As for the scoring breakdown, the first round of judging for the 51 finalists is based on six components: natural beauty (10 per cent) assessed by the committee, overall beauty (30 per cent) by the judges, traditional attire (25 per cent), stage presence (15 per cent), discipline (10 per cent) assessed by the committee, and the CAN Video Project (10 per cent). The second round for the top 15 finalists focuses on five criteria: natural beauty (10 per cent) assessed by the committee, overall beauty (25 per cent), traditional attire (10 per cent), stage presence (15 per cent), and mother tongue usage (10 per cent) - evaluated based on fluency, content, and confidence - plus discipline (10 per cent) by the committee, totalling 80 per cent. The final round for the top 7 finalists adds a 20 per cent score from the general knowledge Q&A session, judged on content, accuracy, and confidence, making up the remaining percentage to complete the 100 per cent final mark. * 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
Barnama
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Kaamatan, Gawai Symbols Of Unity, Harmony Among Malaysians
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 (Bernama) -- The Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day, celebrated from today until Monday (June 2), are proof that harmony, tolerance and consensus can unite the people of Malaysia as one big family regardless of race, religion and background. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said these festivals not only symbolised gratitude for their harvest but reflected the rich tradition and cultural heritage of the people of Sabah and Sarawak. "From May 30 to June 2 every year, Malaysians, particularly the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, Rungus, Dayak community and various other ethnicities in Sabah and Sarawak celebrate the Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day as a symbol of gratitude for the harvest. "May the Kaamatan Festival and Gawai Day celebrations this year bring goodness, prosperity and a brighter future for all Malaysians, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak. Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan and Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai!,' he posted on X today. Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Kaamatan Festival proved that cultural diversity in this country not only exists but is also proudly celebrated. "In the spirit of MADANI Malaysia, values like mutual respect, celebrating differences and living together peacefully are principles that we all jointly uphold. "On behalf of the Home Ministry staff, I would like to wish Happy Kaamatan Festival to everyone in Sabah celebrating this festival with great spirit and joy,' he posted on Facebook today. Saifuddin hopes that this year's Kaamatan Festival will be celebrated in a peaceful and meaningful atmosphere and continue to strengthen the spirit of togetherness among the people. 'Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan!', he said.
