Unduk Ngadau contestants help those affected in Penampang floods

KOTA KINABALU: Hyellene Danius took time off her busy schedule to help flood victims in Penampang, 150km away from Tenom where she works as a teacher.

The 27-year-old, who was crowned Sabah’s 64th Unduk Ngadau in May, said she left Tenom early on Thursday (July 4) morning for Penampang.

“I had a photo shoot yesterday which ended later than expected. So I applied for special leave today to join this charity event,” she said.

Danius, who is also the first national Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan queen following the elevation of the pageant from state level this year, said she was also thankful to her “understanding and supportive” headmaster and colleagues at SJK(C) Tsi Sin in Tenom, which allowed her to execute her Unduk Ngadau duties.

Hyellene Danius (third right) presenting the food basket to recipients while KDCA Women’s Council chairman Joanna Kitingan (left) and other Unduk Ngadau finalists look on.

She also said it was not easy juggling her two roles.

“Since winning, life has been very busy. My weekdays will be at school teaching Bahasa Malaysia and my weekends dedicated to doing Unduk Ngadau work.

Despite the demands on her, Danius said she would do it all over again, saying; “nothing beats the satisfaction of helping people in need.”

Danius and some 2024 Unduk Ngadau finalists got together for a charity programme under the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Women’s Council, with the collaboration of the Hilux Revo Rocco Rogue Owners Sabah (Heroes), distributing food baskets to flood victims.

Council chairman Joanna Kitingan, who also heads the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan organising committee, said the event was part of their charity programme to reach out to flood victims or anyone in need.

“We have carried out similar programmes before, such as distributing food and other essentials, cleaning houses affected by flood, river cleaning and many more.

“This is our way of giving back to the community for their support, besides inculcating the spirit of giving among the Unduk Ngadau,” she said.

A group photo of the 2024 Unduk Ngadau finalists and organising committee, members of Hilux Revo Rocco Rogue Owners Sabah (Heroes) and recipients posed for a group photo after the simple presentation of food baskets at the Molidu Hall in Penampang on Thursday (July 4).

The council’s head of digital, Junzenn Basalan, said that for this particular programme, contributions were designed to meet the needs of women and children.

“Most donations are meant for adults such as food and water. So we also included milk powder, diapers, baby feeding bottles and baby wipes,” she said.

One grateful mother, Syelaysia Ejusineh, expressed her relief, stating that the aid arrived just in time as she was unable to save her seven-month-old son’s belongings in the floods.

“All I had in mind was my son. The water rose very fast and was at waist height when I got out of our house,” said the 27-year-old.

Meanwhile, Api-Api Datuk Christina Liew and Luyang assemblymen Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe each contributed 1,000 food baskets for flood victims in Penampang.