DAP's action insult to KDMs: Board
Published on: Friday, October 31, 2014
.jpg "DAP's action insult to KDMs: Board")
KOTA KINABALU: The action by opposition Sabah Democratic Action Party (DAP) to erect a replica of the Oath Stone outside of Keningau district is an insult to the customs and beliefs of the KDM community, claims State Cultural Board (SCB) Chairman Datuk Wences Angang.He said there should only be a single Oath Stone be in place at any one time and given the recognition it deserves "without involvement of those who have hidden interests"."Erecting a replica and performing rituals on it is against the customs and the spirit of building the real oath stone 50 years ago. If indeed they want to build more Oath Stone replicas, then the meaning behind the Oath Stone will be lost," he said in a statement.
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The replica oath stone was launched on Oct. 25 by DAP Adviser Lim Kit Siang in a ceremony attended by about 70 people in Kg Kionsom, Inanam, after it was found out that the key words of "Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin (Malaysian Government guarantees) had suddenly gone missing in the original oath Stone in Keningau. Instead, a tampered plaque minus these crucial words was recently put in its place and this was only discovered by DAP.DAP's other reason for replicas was due to the authorities making the Oath Stone off limits to visitors on Sept. 16, 1963 on the anniversary of Sabah's independence through Malaysia. The Oath Stone is the only such form of acceptance known in the world whereby natives finally accepted the formation of a new nation.It was erected in 1964 with permission by the outgoing British administration when it was found out that the interior natives led by Sedomon were still opposed to the formation of Malaysia despite the proclamation almost a year earlier on Sept. 16, 1963. The State Government led by then Chief Minister Donald (later Tun Fuad) Stephens despatched then Keniangau Resident Richard Lind (now Tan Sri) to find out what would appease them.In return for their acceptance, the natives told Lind because they did not trust anything that was written on paper, the key 20-Points guarantees on freedom of religion, jurisdiction on land and preservation of customs must be etched in stone and subjected to a ritual involving priestesses. They also insisted that the Federal Government's guarantees on these salient points must be clearly stated on the stone as well, hence the words "kerajaan Malaysia jamin".
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The stone was specially identified and hauled from the Pegalan river while the original plaque was done by an English firm in Singapore. However, Wences said since DAP was a peninsula-based party, they were "outsiders" or not members of the community and, therefore, their action was inappropriate.
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"If they want to do something related to the customs and cultures of other communities, they should have consulted the trustee of that community's 'adat' especially the Natives Affairs Office."They failed to take into consideration the views and opinions of the KDM people. I suggest the Natives Affairs Office take action against them through the Native Court so that it will be a lesson to other groups."The culture and customs of Sabah communities must be respected and not manipulated by any individuals or groups just like what happened with the Oath Stone replica," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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