PENAMPANG: The Kadazan Society Sabah (KSS) here, alarmed by the views presented by the state Mufti Bungsu @ Aziz Jafaar during a forum held in Putrajaya, has filed a summon against the Islamic scholar.
Bungsu had, during the forum, allegedly described the Kadazans as an “invented” race.
In its summons, KSS alleged that Bungsu had insulted and humiliated the Kadazan community with his comment.
The saman malu (customary summon) was filed at the Penampang District Chief’s office of OKK Christoper Mojungkim yesterday, by KSS deputy president, Sylvester Disimond.
When approached after the filing of the summon, Disimon claimed that Bungsu’s remark had angered the Kadazan community and that it has to be properly and adequately dealt with, so as to act as a deterrent to others not to insult one’s race.
“Their (Kadazan) feelings and dignity have been hurt beyond repair if the matter is not settled through native court,” he said.
Disimon pointed out that the term ‘Kadazan’ has existed since time immemorial and it was never invented and is not of recent origin as claimed by Bungsu.He thus said Bungsu must make an appeasement to the Kadazan community in accordance with the native customary law.
He further noted that there is evidence to show that the term has been used long before the 1950s, citing that Owen Rutter in his book, “’The Pagans Of North Borneo” that was published in 1929, wrote that “The Dusun usually describes himself generically as a ‘tulun tindal’ (landsman) or, on the west coast, particularly at Papar, as a Kadazan.
Rutter worked in Sabah or North Borneo from 1910 for five years as District Officer in all five residencies and left North Borneo in 1914 when the First World War broke out.
“So, if this misconception is left unchecked and not rectified, other communities might think that Bungsu’s statement is correct.
“It might eventually become the truth if left uncorrected, and thus our future generations might be forever misled as what the Mufti has said about the Kadazan community,” he said.
Bungsu must appear in native court
While noting that KSS is taking the lead to right the wrong by summoning the mufti, Disimon stressed that every Kadazan has the right to do the same.
Disimon also stressed that KSS’s action is in line with what is enshrined in its constitution to defend the rights and dignity of the Kadazans.
Bungsu had on Sept 28, said the Kadazan was an invented ethnic group made of non-Muslim Dusun people, who are mostly Catholics.
He is yet to make an apology or reply to the anger levelled against him from the various parties such as Upko, PBS, PBRS, NGOs as well as individuals.
Bungsu, who is of Brunei-Suluk ancestry, has not bothered to answer the calls for him to explain his sensitive remarks against the Kadazan.
Meanwhile, Mojungkim said Bungsu is obliged to appear at the Penampang Native Court within 21 days.
“If he fails to appear in the native court, we will work with the police to issue a warrant (of arrest) on him,” he said.
Also present was KSS vice-president, Freddy Eko.
Bungsu had, during the forum, allegedly described the Kadazans as an “invented” race.
In its summons, KSS alleged that Bungsu had insulted and humiliated the Kadazan community with his comment.
The saman malu (customary summon) was filed at the Penampang District Chief’s office of OKK Christoper Mojungkim yesterday, by KSS deputy president, Sylvester Disimond.
When approached after the filing of the summon, Disimon claimed that Bungsu’s remark had angered the Kadazan community and that it has to be properly and adequately dealt with, so as to act as a deterrent to others not to insult one’s race.
“Their (Kadazan) feelings and dignity have been hurt beyond repair if the matter is not settled through native court,” he said.
Disimon pointed out that the term ‘Kadazan’ has existed since time immemorial and it was never invented and is not of recent origin as claimed by Bungsu.He thus said Bungsu must make an appeasement to the Kadazan community in accordance with the native customary law.
He further noted that there is evidence to show that the term has been used long before the 1950s, citing that Owen Rutter in his book, “’The Pagans Of North Borneo” that was published in 1929, wrote that “The Dusun usually describes himself generically as a ‘tulun tindal’ (landsman) or, on the west coast, particularly at Papar, as a Kadazan.
Rutter worked in Sabah or North Borneo from 1910 for five years as District Officer in all five residencies and left North Borneo in 1914 when the First World War broke out.
“So, if this misconception is left unchecked and not rectified, other communities might think that Bungsu’s statement is correct.
“It might eventually become the truth if left uncorrected, and thus our future generations might be forever misled as what the Mufti has said about the Kadazan community,” he said.
Bungsu must appear in native court
While noting that KSS is taking the lead to right the wrong by summoning the mufti, Disimon stressed that every Kadazan has the right to do the same.
Disimon also stressed that KSS’s action is in line with what is enshrined in its constitution to defend the rights and dignity of the Kadazans.
Bungsu had on Sept 28, said the Kadazan was an invented ethnic group made of non-Muslim Dusun people, who are mostly Catholics.
He is yet to make an apology or reply to the anger levelled against him from the various parties such as Upko, PBS, PBRS, NGOs as well as individuals.
Bungsu, who is of Brunei-Suluk ancestry, has not bothered to answer the calls for him to explain his sensitive remarks against the Kadazan.
Meanwhile, Mojungkim said Bungsu is obliged to appear at the Penampang Native Court within 21 days.
“If he fails to appear in the native court, we will work with the police to issue a warrant (of arrest) on him,” he said.
Also present was KSS vice-president, Freddy Eko.
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