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I REFER to the report “Proposal to expand teaching of Kadazan Dusun subject” (DE June 16, 2025).

It stated that, “a proposal to expand the teaching of the Kadazan Dusun language subject in schools to include four other ethnic languages in Sabah has been submitted to the Federal Government for consideration,” quoting Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.

The four major ethnic languages proposed are the Tatana language in Kuala Penyu, Kadazan Tangaa in Penampang, Murut Timugon in Tenom and Dusun Lotud in Tuaran.

According to him, “Up to now the Kadazan Dusun language subject in schools has been solely Bunduliwan a Dusun dialect.”

It stated that the teaching of these four Sabah ethnic languages can be implemented on a pilot basis in selected schools, for example in Kuala Penyu, the teaching of Tatana language would be implemented more appropriate compared to using the Bunduliwan dialect

As a concerned father I have been regularly following talks on the teaching of Sabah ethnic languages. I really want to see my Kadazan mother tongue taught in schools for the present and future generation. I was extremely pleased when I came to understand that the Education Act 1996 has a provision which states: “Bahasa-bahasa kaum asli hendaklah diadakan jika didapati munasabah dan praktik berbuat sedemikian dan jika ibu bapa sekurang-kurangnya lima belas orang murid di sekolah itu memintanya”. (Ethnic languages are encouraged if it is found to be practical or at least 15 parents request for it).

Regrettably, given the existing Education Act 1996 for 29 years I have yet to see Kadazan being taught in schools.

As Ewon had said “up to now the Kadazan Dusun language subject in schools has been solely the Bunduliwan, a Dusun dialect”. This is a blatant deviation from the Education Act 1996. Kadazans have been deprived of their rightful place in schools.

The Kadazan race was not invented. And we do not want our Kadazan race and language to be rebranded as Kadazandusun.

There is Kadazan race and there is Kadazan language. Likewise there is Dusun race and there is Dusun language. These two races and their languages have co-existed harmoniously since time immemorial. They have immersed in the fabric of our Malaysian society.

In the Inait (prayers) of the Kadazan Bobohizans the priestesses introduce to Kinoingan (God) as Kadazan.

“Gina gina naku,

Om kisinakai do baahon, Tuvakon, hinava, dadai, Tondu Kadazan zou i…”

According to Datuk Fred Sinidol, fondly known as Bambaazon, Keeper of Kadazan culture and language, Kadazan means ‘people’ or the indigenous natives of the land that is North Borneo (Sabah). The Kadazan identity before and after the formation of Malaysia has always been Kadazan. We will never allow it to be changed.

1. On 24 August 1953 our leaders formed “The Society of Kadazans’ at Kampung Tuavon, Penampang. 

2. Koisaan Kadazan, Seria, Brunei was formed in 1948

3. Koisaan Kadazan Labuan was formed on 6 May 1951

I urge the Minister to pursue the teaching of Kadazan as provided in the Education Act 1996 so that this long outstanding matter can be realized expeditiously.

Blasius Binjua 

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