KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah native ethnic group has supported a suggestion to be classified broadly as “Momogun” instead of “lain-lain” (Others) in official government forms.
The Rungus Cultural Association (RCA) said “Momogun” is a general term for the native Dusunic, Murutic and Paitanic ethnic groups in Sabah.
Its association president Journah Mozihim said they fully support the broader classification of Sabah natives as “Momogun”.
She was commenting on Parti Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick’s call for Sabah natives to be broadly classified as “Momogun” in official government forms.
The call for replacing “lain-lain” in official government documents was first made by the Momogun National Congress (MNC) in 2016.
“It is clear that the indigenous people of Sabah have contributed greatly to the political landscape and development in the state.
“However, relegating Sabah’s indigenous people to the ‘lain-lain’ category is an unjustifiable injustice, given our considerable contributions,” she said yesterday.
Journah said if the ‘lain-lain’ classification in the official government form is to accommodate other ethnic groups, the government could retain the slot but insert the term Momogun for the Dusunic, Murutic and Paitanic ethnic groups.
She said the RCA is among the 21 signatories of the Momogun Declaration 2016.
“Together with other native organisations, we at the RCA sincerely hope that the indigenous people of Sabah be given the privilege of having their proper... identity be Momogun,” Journah added.
Ewon made a fresh call last week at the Sabah legislative assembly for the government to broadly classify the ethnic Kadazandusuns, Muruts and Rungus among other sub-ethnic groups as Momogun.
Journah added that “Momogun” has been a familiar term among Sabah natives for generations.
She said historically, the term Momogun has been used in names of political parties in Sabah since 1962 with the formation of Malaysia.
She said the term’s use by political parties reflects the native Kadazandusuns, Muruts and Rungus communities.
Journah added that it is about time for Sabah’s indigenous people to have a proper group identity after being categorised as “lain-lain” for the past 60 years since the formation of Malaysia.
