Ongkili tells Kadazans they are not the only race
Published on: Saturday, March 12, 2022
By: Daily Express
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James Ongkili: Huguan Siou is the CM
1981: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk James Ongkili said he was against the election of a “Huguan Siou” or Supreme Leader of the Kadazans because “the move would not benefit anyone.”
He said what Sabah needed was a Huguan Siou who would work and sacrifice for the State and not for an ethnic group.
He said the ethnic communities of Sabah must not revert to being chauvinistic or exalt their racial sentiments so as not to rattle the feelings of other groups.
The Huguan Siou of Sabah is personified by the Chief Minister of Sabah,” he told some 600 delegates and observers at the Kadazan Cultural Association congress at the Dewan Tun Fuad in Penampang.
He said the thinking and observations of most people in Sabah had matured and were no longer simple or narrow minded and reminded the Kadazans that “they are not the only race in Sabah.”
He added that if the Kadazans went all out to elect a Huguan Siou, there was no guarantee that other ethnic groups would not select one for their own race.
“There are about 24 different ethnic groups in Sabah and all of them will always demand their rights as citizens of Malaysia.”
Several KCA branches.had tabled resolutions asking the congress to elect a Huguan Siou, a title formerly given to the late Tun Haji Mohd Fuad Stephens. Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan retained presidency of the KCA with a 176-vote majority over rival Ignatius Malanjum.
DECEMBER 8
Japanese surrender swords are stolen from museum
1969: Two priceless Japanese Samurai swords were stolen from the Sabah Museum. The swords have historical value because they belonged to senior ranking Japanese officers who surrendered them to the Australian Forces when they signed the surrender treaty in September 1945. One was some 31 inches long while the other 40-and-a-half inches.
One of the swords was presented to the museum by Maxwell Hall, who was one of the leading officers of the Australian Forces. Hall was also one of the administrators of the Chartered Company Government of then North Borneo.
The other was presented by Mr Berrick, a Director of Agriculture in 1956. They were the only two Japanese Samurai swords on display in the museum.
Pasok formed to unite indigenous peoples
1978: A new party called United Pasok Nunuk Ragang National Organisation or “Pasok” was formed in Sabah with the aim of uniting the various indigenous peoples.
Its president was Stephen Taikul while Weills Magian is Sec-Gen. The party’s crest constitutes the Bayan tree called “nunuk” superimposed with the “serung” or local headdress and Mount Kinabalu.
‘Bombs planted near Papar bridge’ claim
1981: The disclosure by Australian ex-secret agent Jack Sue about the existence of some 36kg of live bombs planted near the Papar bridge during the height of the Second. World War left the town’s population both puzzled and concerned, especially at which end of the bridge, billed as the longest in Sabah.
Jack, a member of the war-time secret agency Z-Force and residing in Western Australia said the bombs were buried near the bridge when he and his comrades had to abandon a mission in Papar town, which was then occupied by Japanese soldiers.
DECEMBER 9
First Sabah mini expo
1972: State Industrial Development Minister Datuk Harris Salleh opened the first Sabah mini expo on behalf of Chief Minister Tun Datu Haji Mustapha.
Organising Commmittee Chairman Datu Khalil said some 50 Malaysian manufacturers are taking part in the month-long event which is aimed at enabling the people in the State to see the different types of goods made in Malaysia and help rid the notion that these are inferior to foreign-made ones.
Rail service resumes
1985: The Tanjung Aru-Tenom passenger rail service, discontinued in mid-1983, has resumed operations.
DECEMBER 10
Kota Belud Schools Sports Association formed
1963: The Kota Belud Schools Sports Association was formed with its membership drawn from among various schools in the district - four from English schools, eight from government primary schools, eight from native voluntary schools and one from the Chinese School Sports Association.
DECEMBER 4
Bomb defused at Petagas
1978: Bomb experts defused a 33-year-old bomb at Petagas near the airport where a new terminal was being built. The World War Two bomb was discovered by the attendant of a lorry dumping earth at the site.
Police believe the bomb was from a quarry in Kepayan where a tractor had scooped some earth containing the bomb onto a lorry.
New phone exchange launched
1981: A new phone exchange with capacity for 1,000 lines was launched in Beaufort, replacing the existing one which had only 300 lines.
It enabled users in Membakut, Sipitang and Kuala Penyu to enjoy Subscribers Trunk Dialling (STD) facilities.
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