Convention to seek use of ‘Momogun’ instead of ‘lain-lain’ in official forms

 

Momogun National Congress president Wences Angan said, previously, 109 representatives from 52 groups had voiced their support for the initiative.

PETALING JAYA: 

The Momogun National Congress (MNC) will organise a convention on Aug 1 to seek a consensus within the community on the move to get the federal and state governments to allow them to use the term 

Momogun

 instead of 

lain-lain (others)

 on official forms.

MNC president Wences Angan said the convention would be held at Penampang’s Sabah Cultural Centre. It will be inaugurated by state finance minister Masidi Manjun while entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister Ewon Benedick would close the event.

Wences was quoted by The Borneo Post as saying that on June 22, 109 representatives from 52 ethnic organisations and associations, NGOs, and cooperatives had voiced their support for the initiative after being categorised as 

others

 in their own country for the longest time.

All agreed that ‘Momogun’ should 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 suggests that they were not recognised by the government.

If we are put 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 said that the community need not fear that they would lose the names of their respective ethnic groups should the proposal be accepted by the government.

This is not true as the ethnic group names will remain. ‘Momogun’ will only be the common group name or identity,

 he said.

For example, if my ethnicity is Tatana then I would be ‘Momogun Tatana’ in the official forms. The same goes for instance, ‘Momogun Kadazan’, ‘Momogun Tobilung’, ‘Momogun Murut’ and ‘Momogun Tidal’.

Participants of the convention will also sign a declaration which will be submitted to the state and federal governments on the proposal.

Previously, Ewon, who is also Upko president and Kadamaian assemblyman, suggested that 

Momogun

 be used to replace 

others

 in official government forms.

He proposed that formal discussions be initiated to collectively push for the use of 

Momogun

, adding that the process must start at the state-level. - FMT