Dr Jeffrey (third from right) flanked by Bobbey (second from right) and Joanna (right), as well as Jelani (third from left), Dr Benedict (second from left) and Mackey.
KOTA KINABALU: Three KDMR (Kadazandusun Murut and Rungus) associations, including the Sabah Cultural Board and Sabah Native Affairs Council have agreed to bring lawyer Marcel Jude to the Native Court for allegedly insulting the tradition of the KDMR people.
Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said that he had invited the relevant KDMR associations comprising of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), the Rungus association Samora and Persatuan Murut Sabah, together with the Sabah Cultural Board and Sabah Native Affairs Council, in his capacity as the main organising committee for the Borderless Kaamatan this year, to discuss the issue of insulting the culture and tradition of the natives, and the issue of the Unduk Ngadau, in general.
“We discussed the issue pertaining to the statement made by the lawyer, Marcel Jude, who has uttered in his court submission about the Unduk Ngadau and has hurt the feelings of the natives from the communities of KDMR.
“Although he has issued an apology, but to us it is half-heartedly given and completely insincere since he refused to amend and withdraw his submission on the pretext that it cannot be amended.
“Any submission to the court can be amended and corrected. This will be corroborated by our lawyer representative from Samora, Jelani Hamdan,” said Jeffrey, who is also the president of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR).
He also said that Marcel’s apology meant he (Marcel) had admitted to his guilt.
“We feel that once the apology is given, it is (that) he has admitted his guilt and this is the basis for the Native Courts to act, and the association and coordinator of the Unduk Ngadau at all districts to make a police report and bring this issue to the Native Court in the area.
“The Native Court can take action when one party is native and involves the adat (tradition) and culture of the community, in general. Whether that person is native or non-native, they can be brought to the Native Court,” said Jeffrey in a press conference held on the Zoom video conferencing application on Wednesday.
He said that the Native Court will impose a ‘sogit’, a native term for penalty.
As to what type of ‘sogit’ would be imposed, Jeffrey said there are seven variations in the native ‘adat’ (tradition) around Sabah.
He added that as a community of natives practicing the tradition, they are deeply hurt and said that they may resort to taking further action later, which may include civil suit and even invoking the Sedition Act for raising the anger and hurting the native community.
“We want to ensure that this issue is settled once and for all.
When asked when the court action will be started, Jeffrey replied that it will be done immediately and as of today (June 16).
“To prevent such a thing from happening in the future, we must ensure that this case is settled, so that no one should insult the culture and ‘adat’ of any other community and therefore, let this happening be a lesson to anyone, so, in the future, this thing will not happen again,” said Jeffrey.
In addition to Marcel, another person, politician David Orok was also discussed during the meeting.
David has allegedly written insulting remarks concerning the Unduk Ngadau and the Unduk Ngadau pageant in his posting on social media.
Representing the relevant organisations in the mediation meeting were Sabah Cultural Board general manager Mackey Apison @ Lo Tat Min, Sabah Native Affairs Council president Dr Benedict Topin, Samora president Dato Jelani Hamdan, Sabah Murut Association deputy president Datuk Bobbey Suan and Joanna Datuk Kitingan who is representing KDCA.