Group to push for use of ‘Momogun’ instead of ‘others’ on official forms

AN association advocating for the recognition of the term “Momogun” as the collective identity for the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic people of Sabah aims to seek an official declaration next month to replace the current term “others” used in government forms.

The Momogun National Congress (MNC), led by Tan Sri Wences Angang, plans to make this declaration during a convention scheduled at the Penampang Cultural Hall on August 1.

Angang said a pre-convention held last June 22 saw support from 109 representatives across 52 organisations, including ethnic group associations, NGOs, and cooperatives, endorsing the use of “Momogun” instead of “others” on official documents.

“The upcoming convention is intended to reinforce this initiative and provide a platform for ethnic groups that were not present at the pre-convention in June to express similar views,” Angang said at a press conference in Kota Kinabalu.

A declaration or memorandum will be issued and presented to both state and federal governments to have the term used in the official forms, he said.

Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun will officiate the opening of the MNC convention, and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick will close the event.

In April, Benedick, who is also Upko president, renewed calls to use “Momogun” to replace others in official forms.

Angang is also a member of the Upko advisory council.

In a related development, Angang said the term “Momogun” would be more favourable to identify the particular indigenous groups than “Dayak” as proposed by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan in the effort to unify the Bornean community under one collective term.

Angang emphasised that the term “Dayak” was more suitable for identifying indigenous groups in Sarawak and Kalimantan.

He added the term Momogun has more historical references when referring to Sabah than Dayak.

“I believe the term ‘Dayak’ will not be accepted in Sabah,” he said.

Further to this, Angang said the MNC convention next month will have three speakers discussing why the term “Momogun” is more appropriate than Dayak. – July 24, 2024