- Wartawan Nabalu News
Anak Negeri supports Ewon’s call for Lain-lain to be replaced with Momogun to refer to ethnic groups
25 April 2024
By Wartawan Nabalu News
KOTA KINABALU: Former Momogun National Congress (MNC) President, Datuk Henrynus Amin, commended United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) President, Datuk Ewon Benedick, for advocating the recognition of the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic indigenous community in Sabah as Momogun.
He urged the UPKO President, as a State Assemblyman and a Federal Minister, to provide leadership in realising the aspiration of the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic tribal community to be classified in official forms and included in the national data system.
This proposal aims to replace the acronym "KDMRS" that has been used to refer to these communities in the media as well as
Henrynus emphasised that the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic tribal groups, also known as Kadazan/Dusun, Murut, Rungus, and Sungai, share commonalities in terms of geographic origin, language, culture, and genetics.
In a statement, he expressed disappointment that these groups have been divided and denied a common national identity for the past 60 years. He believes that it is crucial for the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic tribal communities to be officially recognised under a common classification in official forms and included in the national data system.
The Momogun National Congress (MNC) has proposed the term "Momogun" to represent the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic tribal groups. This term, similar to the term "Dayak" used in Sarawak, signifies "people indigenous to the land of Borneo." The use of the term "Momogun" is supported by historical writings, and the dusunic community in Kudat, Kota Marudu, Matunggung, and Pitas still refers to themselves as Momogun.
Henrynus mentioned that the two Murut ethnic associations have also accepted the term "Momogun" as the collective national identity of all Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic tribal groups.
Henrynus highlighted that the absence of a national identity poses an existential threat to the dusunic, murutic, and paitanic community in the face of a drastic shift in the political demography of Sabah.
He expressed concern that without a recognised national identity, the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic community may be overwhelmed by the presence of a transient population, some of whom may have obtained identity cards through irregular means under Projek IC.
He also criticised the lumping together of the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic groups under "lain lain" or Bumiputra Sabah, along with Filipinos, Indonesians, and even Pakistanis who may have obtained Malaysian identity cards holding Bumiputra status through irregular means.
Henrynus stated that although the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic tribal community may not have the numbers individually to justify their inclusion in official forms, collectively, when grouped together with the Dayak community in Sarawak, they constitute almost two million people.
Henrynus who is the Anak Negeri President suggested the introduction of a new classification for Dayak/Momogun in official forms, representing the indigenous Malaysians of Borneo origins. He pointed out that there is already consensus in Sarawak to classify various indigenous groups under the term Dayak, and efforts are underway to convince stakeholders in Sabah to adopt the term Momogun.
"While there is still some challenges in Sabah to convince some powerful elites who have vested interest in politics to keep the status quo or to keep the Dusunic Murutic And Paitanic community small, divided and poor, the use of "Momogun" as a national identity is gaining traction.
He said there is no doubt an urgent need to initiate dialog with all stakeholders at State and Federal levels on the issue of a common national identity for the Dusunic Murutic and Paitanic community and their inclusion in the official forms and the national data system.
