Wences (second from right) and the MNC leaders at the press conference.
PENAMPANG (July 24): Momogun National Congress (MNC) will be organising a ‘Konvensyen Perdana Momogun 2024’ on August 1.
It will be held at the Sabah Cultural Centre here and is scheduled to commence at 8am, MNC president Tan Sri Wences Angang told a press conference here today.
The main purpose of the convention is to achieve consensus and agreement among the Momogun community in Sabah and to urge the state and federal governments to replace the term ‘Lain Lain’ (Others) with the term “Momogun” in official government forms currently in use.
Wences said that during the pre-convention on June 22, 2024, 109 representatives from 52 ethnic organizations/associations, non-governmental organizations, and cooperatives voiced their support for this initiative after being categorized as “Others” in their own country for a long time.
The convention will provide an opportunity to strengthen this support further and allow other organizations/associations that could not attend the pre-convention to also express their support.
“We did not receive any objections and all agreed that Momogun be used for the Dusunic, Murutic and Paitanic language groups,” he said, adding that for Orang Asal Sabah to be put under the “Others’ category, it reflects that they are not recognized by the government.
“And if we are gathered under one common identity or group, it would be easier for the government to channel assistance to our many ethnic groups, he said.
Wences also allayed the fears of those losing the names of their ethnic group should the term ‘Momogun’ be accepted and used by the government.
“Some have expressed concern that should all the ethnic groups be gathered under the proposed ‘Momogun’, the move could lead to a loss of their respective ethnic group’s name. This is not true as the ethnic names will remain because ‘Momogun’ will only be the common group name or identity.
“For example, my ethnicity is Tatana from Kuala Penyu. If the term ‘Momogun’ is accepted by the governments, I will be using ‘Momogun Tatana’ in the official forms, same like the others here, they will be using ‘Momogun Kadazan’, ‘Momogun Tobilung’, ‘Momogun Murut’ and ‘Momogun Tidal’ among others,” he stressed.
According to Wences, research has shown that the word ‘Momogun’ has been used historically in Sabah.
The convention will be inaugurated by State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, while Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick will officiate the closing ceremony.
Representatives of the associations attending the convention will also sign a declaration which will be submitted to the state and federal governments, he said.
Any inquiries or further information can be directed to the MNC Secretary-General, Gundohing Philix Laimon, at 019-8105030.
A few months ago United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) president cum Kadamaian assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick also suggested that “Momogun” be used to replace “Others” in official government forms.
Ewon also proposed that the Sabah Government gather the indigenous ethnic groups in Sabah under the Momogun category, and then use it to replace the ‘Others’ section in official government forms.
“In several official government forms aimed at obtaining ethnic information, apart from Malay, Chinese and Indian, the remaining ethnicities are listed as ‘Others.’ I would like to ask the Sabah Government whether they are willing to initiate discussions with stakeholders, including the Federal Government, to find the best formula to replace the ‘Others’ column with a more realistic and progressive ethnic group term,” he said at the State Assembly sitting.
Ewon said that Malaysia is among those who signed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
“Meanwhile, Sabah has a large indigenous demographic. In my opinion, using the term ‘Others’ in official government forms does not reflect respect for the indigenous ethnic groups.
“I believe this process needs to start at the State Government level. Therefore, I propose that formal discussions be initiated to consider proposals from various parties, including my suggestion to gather the indigenous people under the term Momogun,” he said.
