Kadazan Society Sabah against use of ‘Momogun’
Published on: Tuesday, April 30, 2024
By: Jozie John
Henrynus reportedly said that “the use of ‘Momogun” as a national identity is gaining traction and there is an urgent need for dialogue with stakeholders at both State and Federal levels.”
Kota Kinabalu: The Kadazan Society Sabah (KSS) expressed disagreement with the use of ‘Momogun’ as a common classification.
“KSS does not agree to be categorised as ‘Momogun’. The Kadazan community has been recognised by the Federal Government as one of the founding community partners in gaining independence of North Borneo, now Sabah, and the formation of Malaysia on Aug 31, 1963 and on Sept 16, 1963 respectively.
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“We have our history, religion, language, culture, tradition, customs and native customary laws ‘adat’,” said its Deputy President Datuk Albert F. Tokuzip.
His statement was in response to an article entitled “Urgent dialogue needed: Henrynus” which appeared in Daily Express on April 28.
Former Momogun Nasional Congress Datuk Henrynus Amin and now the President of Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri reportedly said that “the use of ‘Momogun” as a national identity is gaining traction and there is an urgent need for dialogue with stakeholders at both State and Federal levels.”
The article further reported that, “he (Datuk Henrynus) praised United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) President Datuk Ewon Benedict for advocating the use of the term ‘Momogun’ to collectively represent the dusunic, murutic and paitanic indigenous community in Sabah.”
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Ewon at the recent State Legislative Assembly highlighted the community’s aspiration to be officially recognised under a common classification instead of the acronym “KDMRS.”
“The community’s aspiration as claimed is misleading as it is a mere assumption that all the indigenous communities in Sabah have consented that their ethnic identities to be categorised under a generic identity Momogun. To the best of our knowledge, a referendum or at least a survey by reputable research survey of public opinion has not been conducted.
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“We at KSS had stated the Kadazan community’s objection to the use of ‘Momogun’ as the common classification as early as on 30 November 2016 under the caption, “KSS exco are above politics,” which was published in the Daily Express,” he said.
Albert said KSS constitution states that the status of the KSS is apolitical.
“KSS members come from various political affiliations of both political divide. It is expressed clearly in our constitution under Article 18: Vacation of Office.”
Article 18.1 states that any member of the Supreme Council is deemed to have vacated his office; Article 18.1.1 upon contesting as a candidate for the position of State Assemblyman or Member of Parliament; and Article 18.1.2 upon being elected/appointed to hold any political post or position in any registered political parties in Malaysia.
“Kaamatan is just around the corner and the propagation of a generic identity does not augur well for our peace-loving people more so when our Prime Minister had recently cautioned on the sensitivities of 3R (race, religion and royalty),” he added.
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