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Momogun National Congress (MNC) fully supports the timely call by YB Datuk Ewon Benedick for the ethnic indigenous peoples of Sabah to be classified as “Momogun” instead of “Lain-lain” currently in use in official government documentations and forms. MNC echoes YB’s view that assigning the indigenous communities in Sabah to such a broad category of origin, culture and denomination is akin to a non-acknowledgement of the special position, rights and privileges of the Orang Asal of Sabah as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963. It must be reiterated however that the term “Momogun” is for the purpose of identifying affiliation or belonging to the Dusunic, Murutic and Paitanic ethnic groupings; “Momogun” does not seek and will never seek to replace the name of any ethnic communities.
Since the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the Orang Asal of Sabah have become key players and played significant roles in pushing forward the development agenda of the state and country alongside our Malay, Chinese and Indian brethren. As such, to be categorically assigned to the common classification of “Lain-lain” does not honour this participation in nation building or the Orang Asal rights to a separate identity or entity.
MNC has from its establishment championed the use of “Momogun” as the preferred collective classification or umbrella term to refer to the Dusunic, Murutic and Paitanic ethnic groupings in Sabah. The Momogun Declaration 2016 signed by representatives from 21 Momogun organisations in the state bears testimony to the MNC conviction and consistent stand that the Orang Asal must be accorded the privilege of a separate classification to denote their unique position as members of the indigenous peoples’ landscape in the state.
MNC believes that the State Government should engage with the Federal Government on ways to rectify this oversight of categorisation for the Orang Asal of Sabah. As direct stakeholders, MNC is invested in supporting any action, will or initiative to bestow due recognition and acknowledgement for the indigenous peoples of Sabah.
