Charles
KOTA KINABALU: The Penampang District Native Court proposes that the case involving lawyer Marcel Jude be managed using the legislative process under the Native Court.
According to Native Court chief for Penampang, Charles Masuil, this was because the case involved the issues of ‘adat’ and the culture of the natives in Sabah, in particular the KDMR (Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Rungus) community.
He said in a statement on Wednesday that a meeting was held on June 14 and they agreed to issue the press statement concerning the lawyer’s statement which has now been viralled on social media.
“In the lawyer, Marcel Jude’s statement at the submission court, he has described the contestants of the 2021 Unduk Ngadau competition as a cattle show to be auctioned and to sell the dignity of the participants for public viewing,” wrote Charles in his statement.
He described the statement by Marcel Jude as a humiliation and aimed at disgracing and degrading the dignity and honour of the Unduk Ngadau.
“The statement is considered as rude, hurtful and without a shred of regard towards the culture of the natives in Sabah, particularly the KDMR people,” he said.
Charles added that as an experienced counsel and lawyer, Marcel Jude should have been careful to write a moderate statement that can maintain the stability and justice.
“He failed to use his common sense and caused disharmony, disrupted peace, public order and harmony.
“We hope this matter can be resolved with patience and perseverance. We recommend the matter to be processed at the level of the Native Court, if permitted since this matter involves the customs and culture of the natives of Sabah, especially the KDMR race,” he said.