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Kota Kinabalu: The desire for the Dusunic, Murutic and Paitanic speaking groups to be united is more important than the generic term Momogun, said Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

“For me, what is important is not the name (Momogun). What is important is the desire and why the name is needed, which is more to reflect the desire of our people to be united...it is not just a name,” said the State Finance Minister.

“The overriding consideration is the need for unity and consensus. Because that consensus will indicate that there is unity among the people,” he said, after he officiated the opening of the Momogun Premier Convention 2024, organised by Momogun National Congress (MNC), at Sabah Cultural Centre in Donggongon, Thursday.

Masidi was referring to the proposal by MNC to replace the term “Lain-Lain” with “Momogun” in official government forms which has sparked controversy and opposition from various groups and individuals.

Critics have underscored the importance of upholding Huguan Siou Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan’s decision, made over three decades ago, as a crucial element of Sabah’s cultural heritage and unity.

Pairin’s decision was to preserve the “Kadazandusun” identity in 1982.

Thursday’s convention, attended by 84 of 92 registered ethnic associations in Sabah, aimed to gather consensus among ethnic associations to adopt the term “Momogun” for specific speaking groups.

The MNC had said the proposed term aims to provide a unified identity for Dusunic, Murutic and Paitanic speaking groups, facilitating easier government assistance for these diverse ethnic groups in Sabah.

The convention will culminate in a declaration signed by the presidents of Sabah’s ethnic associations in support of adopting the “Momogun” term. The declaration would then be passed to the relevant Federal and State authorities.

However, the proposal has not gone down well with certain quarters. It has also faced criticism, particularly from the Kadazan Society Sabah (KSS) which expressed concerns about the imposition of a new collective identity.

Meanwhile, Masidi hoped the convention would come to some conclusions and finalise the term that they want to use. 

“But, at the same time, they should keep an open mind and continue to talk to other groups that are not agreeable. At the end of the day, it’s a win-win situation.

“I think we should not quarrel purely on the basis that we don’t like the word Momogun. There must be some justification. If they don’t agree with it, then come up with a better suggestion.

“I am sure the convention will be more open and happy to look at it. In short, don’t just say, I don’t agree, you should tell us what the things that you don’t agree are...keep the talk open for a makeable solution,” he said. 

Masidi said the support from the people from various organisations present at the convention is a reflection of not just they want to use the term Momogun but also their sincerity in asking the leaders to reach a decision. 

“The leaders must hear this, that we shouldn’t quarrel purely on the basis that we don’t like the word Momogun. So far, they have voiced their disagreement. I’m not involved in this debate. We hope this convention will open up space for those who disagree with this term to sit together and discuss.

“For me, this is a continuous process to reach a decision. In the end, if everyone still disagrees, it’s simple, let’s just agree to disagree. But we shouldn’t prevent those who want to use the term Momogun from using it.”

To a question, Masidi said a referendum can never solve this sort of a problem. 

“For example, if you want a referendum on just an example, which one is better, Dusun or Kadazan? I think it will never solve the problem.

“The whole idea is that there’s a coexistence of the term, despite the fact that I prefer to be called Dusun and somebody else prefers to be called Kadazan. To me, it’s not a big problem and that’s the reason in the first place why they have the term KDM (Kadazan Dusun Murut).”

On whether the use of the term Dayak (the general term to refer the indigenous people in Borneo) instead of Momogun in the official form, Masidi said his understanding all the while is that Dayak is for the southern part of Borneo, from Sarawak downward.

“It (Dayak) is not usable in the northern Borneo, which is Sabah. That is my understanding. It looks like many tend to agree that Dayak may be more suitable for the southern part of Borneo.

“And that doesn’t mean we are not united. We are united in diversity,” he said.

KDCA Central Committee member Datuk John Ambrose had recently emphasised the significance of Pairin’s stance and the overwhelming support it has garnered from the ethnic communities.

He urged respect for Pairin’s legacy as a leader who prioritised cultural heritage and unity and emphasised the importance of safeguarding the region’s cultural heritage and the need for unity and collaboration in addressing key issues facing Sabah.