Momogun has Full Support in Northern Region

14 December 2024

KOTA MARUDU: Stephen Nogiris Sabala, President of the Sabah Original People Organisation (OAS), affirmed that the term "Momogun" serves as a collective name for the indigenous population of Sabah and faces no opposition in the northern region of the state, which includes Kota Marudu, Kudat, Matunggong, Pitas, and Paitan.

Speaking after the Gotong-Royong Perdana event, Stephen, who is of Rungus descent, emphasised that the Rungus, Tobilung, Tambanuo, and Kimaragang communities have consistently embraced "Momogun" as the appropriate term to represent Sabah's indigenous peoples.

"In fact, the Rungus people have historically referred to themselves as Momogun or Momogun Rungus," Sabala stated.

“So, the promotion of this old name by the Momogun National Congress (MNC) in recent years came to us as something natural and highly welcomed.”

OAS was among the 77 NGOs which had signed the MNC’s Declaration on August 1st this year, for “Momogun” to replace “Yang Lain-lain” in government forms.

“We in OAS are also proud that we are the first to propose the creation of the Momogun Festival statewide celebration,” Sabala said adding that they had successfully organised the inaugural Momogun Festival in Kota Marudu in October 26 this year.

The MNC President, Tan Sri Wences Angang, had supported the idea of Momogun Festival and agreed to celebrate it every year on August 9, in conjunction with the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

“The progress in promoting and utilising the Momogun tag has garnered statewide support, despite some reluctance from smaller groups to fully embrace it,” Sabala stated.

“At OAS, we are committed to upholding and promoting the Momogun name. Recently, we organized the Gotong-Royong Perdana event at the District Office, which saw an impressive turnout of 1,800 attendees. This initiative was led by Datuk Hendrus Anding, the Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry.”

“I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional efforts of Meirin Suara, the District Officer, who worked tirelessly to engage 1,800 locals from surrounding villages to participate in Gotong-Royong Perdana, even in the rain,” he concluded.