Way back in 2013 a group of retired civil servants, business people and young people (who are CONCERNED about the unity and the present PREDICAMENT disunity of the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, Rungus, Lotud, Tatana and the other ethnic groups in Sabah) started to discuss in earnest about that predicament and challenged each other / challenged themselves as to what can be done about it.
These informal talks led to serious discussions and the First Intellectual Discussion was held on the 1st November, 2013 where thirteen (13) participants turned up.
This first Intellectual Discussion was followed by four (4) subsequent meetings chaired by Datuk Verus Aman Sham under the auspice of PISOMPUUVAN INITIATIVE (PI) Intellectual Sessions until the 14th March 2014.
The issues raised/discussed/debated upon were factors which affect the unity of the ethnic groups, and especially those factors which have caused (and continue to cause) disunity between and amongst them).
The PI Sessions resolved the PIISAAN TRUST be incorporated under the Trustees (Incorporation) Ordinance, Sabah Cap 149 as a VEHICLE to unite these ethnic groups.
A draft Declaration of Trust of PIISAAN Trust was prepared.
The PI Intellectual Sessions evolved into PI Tea Parties starting on the 23rd of September, 2014. The PI Tea Parties which changed into PISOMPUUVAN MOMOGUN (PM) Tea Parties were now participated by retired and current political leaders from both the political divides, i.e., from the Government and the Opposition. But, the common denominator for all the participants was (and still is) their concern for the present PREDICAMENT of all the ethnic groups in Sabah.
THE SECOND PART OF THE FORMATION OF THE MOMOGUN NATIONAL CONGRESS
The second part of the Formation of the Momogun National Congress started with several Tea Parties coordinated and facilitated by Datuk Christine Tibok-Vanhouten in Kota Kinabalu.
The attendees were personally invited to the Tea Parties and many came to attend and interact cordially with each other even if many came from different political backgrounds and statuses.
The Tea Parties’ Sessions started with coffee and tea and some savouries. Afterwards, the attendees sat down for discussions. At the first Tea Party held on the 23rd of September 2014, Tan Sri Bernard G. Dompok was unanimously agreed upon by those present to be the Chairman of the discussions.
The Tea Parties’ Meetings were always held at the Eagle’s Nest Room of the Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club in Kota Kinabalu. The Meetings were cordial and full of enthusiasm among those in attendance. At the 2nd Tea Party, the members decided that this gathering of like-minded people should be formalized by forming an Organization to carry out what the Momogun Community hopes for and aspire to be. Therefore, at the 2nd Tea Party held on the 31st October, 2014 it was decided that an NGO be Registered to institutionalize the idea of the Tea Party Meetings into the new Momogun National Congress (MNC). A Sub-Committee was formed to spearhead the drafting of the Constitution of the proposed Organization and after that to register it.
The Tea Party appointed the following members to look into the Constitution.
Chairman
Datuk Verus Aman Sham
Member
Datuk John Sikayun
Datuk Maijol Mahap
Datuk Christine Tibok-Vanhouten
Dr. Benedict Topin
Secretary
Juliana Situn
The Constitutional Sub-Committee had 5 Meetings before the Draft was presented to the Tea Party Members on the 16th December, 2014. The Tea Party had 2 more Meetings before the Constitution was approved to be submitted for Registration of the Momogun National Congress.
For the record, the Sub-Committee submitted the name “MOMOGUN NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL” as agreed by the Tea Party Meeting but was turned down by the Registrar Of Societies and eventually, the name agreeable by all was “MOMOGUN NATIONAL CONGRESS”.
The Momogun National Congress was officially registered on the 3rd of June, 2015 with His Excellency Tan Sri Bernard G. Dompok as its Protem President.
The following were the first Officers of the MNC when it was registered.
The MNC had its Inaugural General Meeting on the 2nd of April 2016 at the Sabah Golf Country Club and the new President and office Bearers were elected.
“UNITED TOWARDS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT”