SRI AMAN: An Iban vaccine recipient turned heads at a vaccination centre in Sabah recently when she turned up for her first jab in a set of traditional Iban clothes called ‘Ngepan Iban’.
Lucinda Robert, 51, wore her traditional attire with pride to the Dewan Mini Putrajaya Covid-19 vaccination centre (PPV) in Kota Kinabalu on July 23.
Lucinda, originally from Taman Gamang, Sri Aman, shared her pictures at the vaccination centre on Facebook page.
She told the Information Department (JaPen) she wanted to show to all and sundry that she was still faithful to her Iban traditions, customs and culture after all these years.
“I also wanted to celebrate Sarawak Independence Day because I received the jab on July 23, a day after the celebration,” she said.
Lucinda, who currently works as a manager in a leading insurance agency, MCIS Berhad, in Kota Kinabalu, added, “Despite living in Sabah for 25 years, as a Sarawakian and an Iban, I hold true to my identity.
“My intention was not to impress the public, but simply to create ‘history’ for myself. I am proud of who I am.”
She told JaPen that her second dose of Covid-19 vaccine would be on August 13.
Lucinda also urged the public to register for the vaccination in order to help Malaysia achieve 80 percent herd immunity against Covid-19 by October.
