RCA supports Ewon’s call for indigenous people of Sabah to be classified as "Momogun"

29 April 2024

By AVV

KOTA KINABALU: The Rungus Cultural Association (RCA) lauds and supports the call by Datuk Ewon Benedick, the Kadamaian State Assemblyman for the indigenous people of Sabah to be classified as "Momogun" and not as "others" as seen in all official government forms.

A statement by Jornah Mozihim, the RCA President also commends the consistency of the National Congress of Momogun (MNC) since its establishment in leading the effort to make "Momogun" the common term for the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic ethnic groups.

“It is clear that the indigenous people of Sabah have made significant contributions to the political landscape and development of the state. However, categorizing the indigenous people of Sabah as "others" is an unjust and unreasonable injustice, considering our significant contributions,” she said.

“RCA is one of the 21 signatories of the 2016 ‘Declaration of Momogun’. Together with other Momogun organizations, we at RCA sincerely hope that the indigenous people of Sabah will be given the privilege to have their rightful national identity as "Momogun" and not just be classified as "others". We thank Datuk Ewon Benedick for making this call in the recent Sabah State Legislative Assembly meeting.”

She elaborated that the term "Momogun" is not unfamiliar among the indigenous people of Sabah since ancient times. In 1962, G.S. Sundang from Keningau, together with his brother OKK Sedomon, established the Pasok Momogun Party (which later became the first Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah from 1963 to 1975 under Chief Ministers Fuad Stephens, Peter Lo, and Mustapha Harun). In 1964, Pasok Momogun merged with UNKO to form the United Pasok Momogun Kadazan Organization (UPKO).

“Recalling the early use of the term "Momogun" by GS Sundang from the original UPKO, and now as the United Progressive Kinabalu Organization (UPKO), it is reasonable to call for "Momogun" as the identity of the indigenous people of Sabah, coming from the current President of UPKO, Datuk Ewon Benedick,” she stated.

She elaborated, “Looking back at several Kadazandusun songs that have used the term "Momogun" in their lyrics, such as "Silik-Silikan Mato nu" which says "Modosi oku opidan, osusa Momogun" by a singer who states in the lyrics that they come from Tambunan.

Similarly, in the song "Aiso Nasip Momogun" by Jimmy Ginggor, he also identifies himself as a Momogun. In another song titled "Aiso Titiu Momogun" by Rose Moguloi, the singer is said to be from Penampang. All of this shows that the term "Momogun" has been widely used among the indigenous people of Sabah.”

Acccording to her it is time for the indigenous people of Sabah to have their proper group identity after being categorized as "others" for the past 60 years since the formation of Malaysia. Those 60 years have been a long journey, even longer than the 40-year journey of Prophet Moses and his people in the desert.

However, if the classification of "others" in official government forms is also to accommodate other groups, let the "others" slot remain, while the term "Momogun" is included for the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic ethnic groups.

“We, the Rungus people, have called ourselves "Momogun" since ancient times. We take pride in being part of the larger Momogun family. Therefore, after the Momogun Convention in 2016, we can't wait for the term "Momogun" to be officially used, and RCA hopes that our Momogun community does not have to wait another 60 years from now to realise the nation's term "Momogun" in all forms of government forms, along with other ethnic groups such as Malays, Chinese, and Indians.”