Original site for the 'new' Batu Sumpah

Keningau: The Oath Stone (Batu Sumpah) will soon be relocated to its original place which is the compound of the Land and Survey Department here and its contents restored to its original wordings.Sabah Natives Affairs Department (JHEANS) President Mohamad Alamin said it is a clear symbol of tradition which is intended to safeguard the rights of the natives in Sabah.

"This is the role of native chiefs, to ensure our tradition is preserved and it had been guaranteed by the government of Malaysia under the Federal Constitution Article 153, 'The rights of the natives in Sabah and Sarawak'.

"We want the government to look at the issue seriously. This is not a political issue but it belongs to all natives and should not be turned into a place of assembly. What we are doing now is according to the constitution, the Malaysia Agreement so that the rights of Sabahans will be respected," he said during a press conference here after a meeting with customary chiefs and native chiefs, Tuesday.

During the meeting, a special committee was established to upgrade and improvise the Native Affairs Council (MHEANS) and to review the existing customs and legislations on whether they should be retained or not.

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A special committee called Special Finance Committee was also established to ensure MHEANS will have its own financial sources while a Development and Investment Committee was established to ensure that MHEANS will have sufficient funds to carry out its activities.

Mohamad also said the construction of the RM35 million Native Court Training Institute (Ilman) in Penampang is expected to be completed according to schedule.

The Oath Stone is the only such form of acceptance known in the world where an indigenous community's response towards the formation of a new nation was finally secured after their wishes to have their demands cast in stone were met.

It was erected in 1964 with permission granted by the outgoing British administration when it was found out that the Interior natives led by OKK Sedomon were still opposed to the colony of British North Borneo becoming Sabah through the formation of Malaysia (by way of merger with Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak) a year earlier on 16.9.1963.

The appointed State Government of then Chief Minister Donald (later Tun Fuad Stephens) despatched then Keningau Resident Richard Lind (now Tan Sri) to find out what could be done to appease them.

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In return for their acceptance of Malaysia, the natives told Lind that they did not trust whatever was promised on paper in the discussions leading to the merger unless they were cast in stone. These related to three of the key 20-Points, namely freedom of religion, jurisdiction over State land and preservation of native customs. They said these should be accompanied with the words "Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin (Malaysian Government guarantees) and be subjected to a ritual involving priestesses in line with native tradition.

The stone was specially identified and hauled from the Pegalan river while the plaque was sent to Singapore to be engraved.

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