Sandakan Teacher Frenerietta crowned as new Sabah Unduk Ngadau

Frenerietta, 25, beat 43 participants representing their districts and qualified among seven finalists, who were then required to answer two questions - one of which had to be answered in their respective mother tongues.

Dressed in traditional Dusun Labuk tribe attire, the third child of five siblings was given questions, among others, on the impact of the speed of technological progress on human relations, which Frenerietta answered confidently in her mother tongue.

"I am grateful for this victory after first setting foot into this KDCA and this victory is a precious gift for my family.

"My hope is for the young people to be brave in front of the masses, continue to speak in their mother tongue so that it does not disappear with time," Frenerietta said when met by reporters after being crowned Unduk Ngadau here last night.

The Kaamatan Festival is an annual thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest originally celebrated by the Kadazandusun community, but developed into a festival to encapsulate Sabahans of all backgrounds in May each year - and which ended in today's closing ceremony.

Unduk Ngadau, held for the past 62 years, is no ordinary beauty pageant but features the culture and steeped traditions of ethnic groups from various backgrounds in Sabah, and is the highlight of the Kaamatan Festival where the winners take on the responsibility as role models to lead the younger generation.

Frenerietta said her victory is a challenge for her as a teacher to divide time between the responsibilities she has to perform as Unduk Ngadau and her career as a teacher.

Last year's Unduk Ngadau winner Maya Hejnowska crowned Frenerietta last night.

Frenerietta also pocketed a total prize of over RM120,000 presented by the wife of the Yang Dipertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah Toh Puan Norlidah R.M Jasni. Also present was the wife of the Chief Minister of Sabah Datin Seri Julia Salang.

Meanwhile, the second and third place winners were Esther Marius of Papar district and Deedee Cassandra Dallius of Ranau district. They each won prizes worth more than RM75,000 and RM62,000 respectively.