Order to restore the key words
Published on: Saturday, February 13, 2016
Keningau: The words "Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin" that was engraved on the original Keningau Oath Stone plaque must be reinstated with immediate effect, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said.He also said that the process to gazette the historic item must begin, along with relocating it to its "final resting place" also within the district. However, he did not indicate if it should be in the form of reinstating the lost plaque that was found last year or inserting the missing key words on the existing plaque.The Keningau District Office has already identified a venue for the Oath Stone which is on a two acre site adjacent to the Keningau Heritage Museum.
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"The words on the plaque must also be restored to its original form," he said, after hearing from Keningau District Officer Yusop Osman that a bronze plaque discovered last year was indeed the original plaque that went missing in the 1980s. It's authencity was confirmed to Daily Express by former State Secretary Tan Sri Richard Lind last September. However, State Tourism and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the matter of verifying it was best left to the museum.Museum Director Datuk Joanna Kitingan has also since transferred, which made any final decision on the Oath Stone unlikely anytime soon.
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Lind was the District Officer of Keningau in the 1960s who was tasked with erecting the oath stone which was consecrated in a ritual ceremony on 31.8.1964.It is probably the only such in the world where the formation of a new nation was secured after the wishes of the opposing group – the interior natives – to have their demands cast in stone were met.
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"It summarised the key 20 Points demands of freedom of religion, jurisdiction over State land and preservation of native customs that worried the non-Muslim natives most as they did not trust the politicians in Malaya who they feared may in future change the constitution as they wished," Lind had said. The decision to erect the stone was seen necessary as these natives were still opposed to Malaysia's formation on 16.9.1963, even a year after the Malaysia Agreement was signed. Lind said the British Government was informed and a Singapore firm was commissioned to prepare the plaque with the words Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin (Malaysian Government Guarantees)" inscribed.However, in the mid-1980s the plaque was found mysteriously replaced with another with the key words missing.Nazri said he was also surprised how the words could have been omitted but noted that the oath stone was shifted to make way for development and something may have happened."Although I personally feel his matter is important, it is a non-issue. For me what was engraved on the plaque is a declaration of the human rights (of interior natives)," he said, after attending a briefing on the district's tourism action plan and decision on the oath stone. Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup. Nazri said with the key words restored, there should no longer be any reasons to doubt what happened. His Ministry through the Heritage Commisioner, Dr Zainah Ibrahim, would provide the advice and consultation needed for the protection and conservation of the Oath Stone.This would include preparation for its new resting place as well as texts and materials related to the stone.On Sabah's part, he said, the State Government could expedite the process of gazetting the oath stone as a cultural heritage artefact under the Sabah Cultural Heritage Enactment (Conservation) 1997, so the Tourism and Culture Ministry can further raise its status to a national heritage under Section 49 of the National Heritage Act 645. "I hope the State Government won't delay the process and also relocating the stones as the Bobolians (priestesses) are getting and old and I, too, want to witness the rituals performed on the Oath stone when it sits at its final resting place" he said. He said it is only right to recognise the object as a national heritage as it is important to Malaysian history, in line with the criteria under Section 67 (2A) of Act 645."I believe conventions like this have the effect of law, it does not need a policy to be formulated, what has been promised must be fulfilled as it is mentioned in history."This will serve to remind us that these pledges were made by the leaders of Sabah and Federal and, hence, it should not need to be made a law: it is already very strong. "While many laws have to be passed in Parliament, this (oath stone) is above it, it is a promise made between men. This is a convention between the people in Sabah and federal leaders in the past and for us now, if we do not honour our pledges it is tantamount to treachery which is beyond forgivable" he said. On the relocation, he said he is leaving to the State Government to decide but will bring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's attention, who as the Finance Minister would decide on the funds needed.The District Office in its relocation plan and construction of a monument site for the Oath Stone has requested for RM15 million.Nazri wants Sabah leaders to assist him in requesting for the funds when he pushed the request to Najib, saying the State Cabinet could also do so by going directly to Najib. Meanwhile, Nazri approved RM50,000 funding for the organising of the Crocker Range Festival scheduled soon.He said he is willing to support all the tourism plans valued over RM20 million by the District's Tourism Committee if they were willing to heed to his requests. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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