Published: Wednesday February 13, 2013 MYT 10:30:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday February 13, 2013 MYT 10:31:34 PM
Kadazandusun association demands apology from Anwar over 'Huguan Siou' title conferment
KOTA KINABALU: The Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) has demanded apologies from the Ranau PKR division and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the conferment of the "Huguan Siou" title to the PKR adviser.
Its secretary-general Suman Yasambun said the Huguan Siou or paramount chief title was exclusively reserved for a Kadazandusun Murut leader, and culturally inappropriate and illegal to be bestowed on a non-Kadazandusun Murut.
"It has insulted and hurt the feelings of the Kadazandusun community. In fact, it is an act that will bring the curse upon a person or persons who usurp the leadership structure within the Kadazandusun community, especially in relation to the institution of Huguan Siou," he said in a statement Wednesday.
Anwar drew flak when he accepted the title bestowed on him by Ranau PKR head Jonathan Yasin on Sunday.
Suman said "Huguan Siou" was an institution that embodied the community's spirit of unity, courage and self-determination.
"He is the guardian of the Kadazandusun Murut customs, norms, artefacts and traditions which were celebrated every year through the Kaamatan festival," he said.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the title was sacred to the Kadazadusun Murut community and should only bestowed on those from the community.
He said the person who bestowed the title was probably trying to gain political mileage and it was unbecoming of Anwar to accept it for he had been in politics and government for years.
Masidi said any action deemed to belittle the Huguan Siou institution would undermine Sabah's cultural heritage and that political agenda should not override the interests of Sabahans.
United Sabah Bajau Organisation president Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said the "Huguan Siou" saga showed that Anwar was ignorant of the cultures of the various ethnic groups in Sabah in his quest for power.
"He has insulted Sabahans. How do we expect Sabahans to trust him?" he said.
Liberal Democratic Party president Datuk V.K. Liew said there was only one "Huguan Siou" in Sabah, namely Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. - Bernama
Related Stories:
Anwar Ibrahim in Huguan Siou blooper
- It takes nearly 72 hours to get a new polycarbonate passport now
- Najib: Rallies only lead to chaos
- Leave no stone unturned in latest death in lock-up case
- Give birth naturally, women urged
- King launches ‘Colours of 1Malaysia’ at Dataran Merdeka
- Housewife extorted over nude pics
- Election Commission promises utmost transparency in redelineation exercise
- Barisan leaders: 'All for one and one party for all’ a good idea
- Guan Eng confident of Pakatan unity despite pressure
- Too blessed to be stressed
- It can take longer to get a passport for time being
- Penang halts online passport applications
- Authorities move to prevent abuse of social media
- Mission schools ready to provide English-medium education
- Building English confidence among rural kids
- Travel Picks: Top 10 golf resorts around the world
- Chinese premier criticizes EU move on trade measures
- Justice Department opposes AMR's $20 million severance for CEO Horton
- News Corp to take charge of up to $1.4 billion this quarter
- Wall Street Week Ahead: Investors look for signs in the rally's break
- Unhappy with how your fave series is faring? Amazon gives you a say
- Visa, Mastercard ask U.S. court to declare card fees are lawful
- Wall Street posts first weekly loss since mid-April on Fed angst
- IMF's Lagarde escapes formal investigation in court
- Politics of development pays dividend
- A thematic play seen
- Sarawak counters hogging the limelight
- Getting GST acceptance will be tough
- A yen for the unloved dollar standard
- Bitten by the music bug
- Pandelela-Mun Yee and Yan Yee-Jun Hoong bag bronze medals in Mexico
- World No. 1 Nicol sinks Waters to reach British Open final
- China confident of sweeping aside their final opponents
- Koreans in the final despite Dong-keun’s loss
- Macdonald and Marques share the lead
- McIlroy among big names who miss the cut as Molinari leads
- Kuchar leads in weather-hit second round
- Two tied at the top as rain stops play in the Bahamas
- Nico Rosberg revels in the rain as Mercedes stamp their mark
- Whitmarsh: McLaren’s hopes were too high this season
- Affendi brushes off hand injury to win CP130 race in Terengganu
- Hafizh needs to step up a gear after coming in fifth
- Vignesa right on track to retain GT Open title
- Dragons’ Melton confident of getting the better of Pringle in Game 2
- Indiana bounce back against Miami to level series
- Big crowd at Pakatan rally at Dataran PJ (Live Updates)
- Chua: Cops right to act against those inciting racial hatred
- Robber shot dead after picking on wrong ‘victim’
- Painting of merry old couple covered up to prevent accident at Chew Jetty
- Saiful Bukhari is now a married man
- Malaysia a favourite of Muslim travellers
- Trio walk free after court turns down remand request
- PKR members should get top GLC roles, says Suhaimi
- Anwar Ibrahim says GLC posts not for PKR politicians
- EC: Blackout photo is a fake
- Malaysia a favourite of Muslim travellers
- Living through your midlife
- Who has the better chance of bagging that high-salary post?
- Big crowd at Pakatan rally at Dataran PJ (Live Updates)
- Sarawak counters hogging the limelight
- Klang Valley a haven for UOA Dev
- More can be done to promote private retirement scheme
- Painting of merry old couple covered up to prevent accident at Chew Jetty
- Saiful Bukhari is now a married man
- Travel Picks: Top 10 golf resorts around the world
RSS
