Community urged to Safeguard Kadazandusun Language as Literary Competition Concludes
- nabalunews
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
21 February 2026
PENAMPANG: Tan Sri Bernard Dompok one of the Founding Trustee of the Kadazandusun Language Foundation (KLF) urged continued commitment to the preservation and development of the Kadazandusun language, describing literary efforts and mother tongue education as essential to cultural continuity and sustainable development.
Speaking at the Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok (TSBGD) Literary Award Presentation and Prize-Giving Ceremony, held in conjunction with International Mother Language Day, Dompok expressed gratitude for the opportunity to hold the event in person, noting that it was last organised virtually in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the Kadazandusun novel writing competition was initiated in response to the pressing need for more reading materials in the language, particularly for use as teaching aids in schools. Since its inception in 2012, the competition has received 89 entries, reflecting growing interest and commitment among writers.
Dompok said the competition had successfully encouraged dedicated Kadazandusun writers to refine and enhance their novel-writing skills, while uncovering hidden talents within the community.
“These prizes are more than mere awards. They serve as catalysts that ignite courage, inspire creativity and empower writers to tell their stories. Through their work, our language is strengthened and more Kadazandusun novels are brought to life,” he said.
He added that participants’ enthusiasm, love and pride in their heritage language were crucial in upholding and sustaining Kadazandusun culture, expressing hope that writers were motivated not by prizes alone but by a deep sense of responsibility towards preserving their cultural heritage.
Dompok stressed that quality writing and engaging publications are fundamental to the development and preservation of the language. He called for intensified strategic efforts to cultivate strong reading habits among Kadazandusuns, particularly youths and young children who are increasingly drawn to digital media.
He also highlighted initiatives undertaken at the national level, including the formation of the Kadazandusun Terminology Task Force by the Ministry of Education’s Curriculum Development Centre. The task force comprises representatives from the Kadazandusun Language Foundation, , the Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and BKD language teachers, and is tasked with developing and standardising terminology for teaching and learning.
In addition, he noted the establishment of the JK Hala Tuju Kurikulum BKD task force to chart the future direction of BKD education, and expressed hope that its programmes would further strengthen heritage language teaching.
Dompok also welcomed a pilot project under the Inisiatif Pendidikan Bahasa Etnik Sabah (IPBES), undertaken by the Kadazandusun Language Foundation in collaboration with the Sabah Ethnic Language Association and the Borneo Institute of Indigenous Studies of . The initiative involves four ethnic languages, Kadazan, Lotud, Tatana and Timugon, and is being implemented in selected primary schools in Penampang, Tuaran, Kuala Penyu and Tenom districts in 2025.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the principles of Education for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to quality education, reducing inequalities and safeguarding cultural heritage. The preservation and promotion of mother tongues, he said, are integral components of sustainable development, strengthening identity, confidence and a sense of belonging among children.
In his address, Dompok encouraged writers to continue producing quality literary works to enrich the teaching and learning of BKD, describing their writings as vessels of memory, identity and wisdom passed from one generation to the next.
Quoting a familiar local expression “If not us, who else? If not now, when?” — he reminded the audience that the responsibility of safeguarding the language rests with the entire community.
He also announced that the 5th Kadazandusun Novel Writing Competition would mark the final edition of the initiative, describing it as the close of a meaningful chapter that had nurtured new writers and enriched Kadazandusun literature over the years.
While the competition would conclude, Dompok assured that efforts to promote language and literary development would continue through new platforms and collaborative initiatives.
“Languages do not disappear suddenly; they fade when they are no longer written, taught or spoken with pride,” he said, urging the community to ensure that Kadazandusun remains a living inheritance for future generations.
