PENAMPANG: Winners of the district level Sugandoi Kaamatan competitions will bring home better cash prizes this year.
Evaristus Gungkit State Sugandoi Kaamatan Committee chairman said increase in cash prizes has been made under his tenure, noting that organisers for this competition had increased cash prizes to more than RM1000 for the main winner.
He added that some districts offered RM5,000 for winners which is a tremendous encouragement for aspirants.
Speaking during a press conference at Hongkod Koisaan KDCA, here, recently he shared that 44 districts and sub-districts will send their representatives for the State-level Sugandoi Kaamatan .
“The finals will be held at Hongkod Koisaan KDCA, on May 26, where competitors will showcase their local prowess,” he said.
The champion for the State-level Sugandoi Kaamatan will receive RM6,000 while the second and third place winners will bring home RM4,000 and RM3,000, respectively.
Seven finalists will go home with RM600 each.
As for Sugandoi Songkotoun and Sugandoi Dazanak, the main winners will bring home RM1,500 each.
The first and second runner-up will receive RM1,000 and RM800, respectively, while a consolation prize of RM300 will be offered to the other finalists.
Sugandoi Kaamatan is for contestants aged 18 and above while Sugandoi Songkotoun is reserved for participants aged 60 and above. The third category, Sugandoi Dazanak is for young participants aged 12 and below.
“Previously, the finals for the Sugandoi Songkotoun and Sugandoi Dazanak were held earlier. However, Huguan Siou Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said he would also like to watch the finalists for both competitions in action during the finals of Sugandoi Kaamatan.”
“So this year, we made a slight change to the programme and there will be a total of 20 finalists from all three categories – ten for Sugandoi Kaamatan and five each for Sugandoi Songkotoun and Sugandoi Dazanak, during the finals.”
Semifinals for Sugandoi Songkotoun and Sugandoi Dazanak will be on May 20.
The Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan who is also the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) President will grace the finals on May 26.-JT/BNN
