No need to host Kaamatan beauty pageant – students
KOTA KINABALU: There is no need to host the Unduk Ngadau or beauty pageant this year - the highlight of the yearly Kaamatan Festival.
Dyg Siti Rahayu Zaihurin, who is doing her master’s degree in Aquaculture at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), said she objected to the event with the main reason of the possible spread of Covid-19.
Although she does not know how the event will be carried out or through online, it is unsuitable to hold the event.
She said gathering of people would be unavoidable since there would always be people who would show up to see the contest.
Besides, the organizers already involve a lot of people.
She added that with the current economic situation, it would probably attract people to open stalls especially for those who come as audiences.
So, perhaps people with Covid-19 would easily spread among people, especially those without symptoms, and with the gathering would possibly lead to a new cluster, she elaborated.
Furthermore, she said the government’s effort to curb the Covid-19 spread would be futile if there was emergence of a new cluster and more money would have to be spent on Covid-19 screening.
“And I had read the prizes for winners and they are not bad, but it does not tally with the current situation.
“The expensive prizes may be better spent for the needy and those who have incurred loss of income,” she opined.
Meanwhile, another UMS student, Syahira Rabin, and an insurance agent Phoebe Lee shared the same opinion of objecting the beauty pageant event.
Syahira said there was no need for such event at this moment, while Phoebe said when there were crowds, people would not keep social distancing which would lead to the spread of Covid-19 unless it is held through online.