KOTA KINABALU: Three prominent Sabah leaders are united in their goal to eliminate the term "lain-lain" (others) on official government forms in favour of a common identification for Sabah’s diverse indigenous communities.
But Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick, Deputy Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Kadazandusun paramount leader Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan differed in the term to identify indigenous peoples of the state.
Benedick, supported by 75 out of 84 ethnic associations, is championing his preferred term.
He said the associations agreed and signed a declaration during the Momogun National Congress (MNC) convention in Penampang on Thursday (Aug 1) to use the term "Momogun" as the generic name for the indigenous communities of Sabah, specifically for the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic-speaking groups.
“This declaration is a significant policy decision following the first convention in the early 1960s, which selected the name Kadazan, Dusun, or Momogun at that time,” said the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister in a statement on Friday (Aug 2).
He said the convention was not about creating a new ethnic name but about establishing a generic term to replace the "lain-lain" category.
“It is not just about our group name being important, but also the substance or essence of the attitudes, thoughts, discipline, and integrity of the Momogun community.”
Moreover, he added, the Momogun community should also strengthen unity and create success stories or achievements that can be an inspiration or motivation, especially for future generations.
“Therefore, with this declaration and the policy decision by this gathering of organisations, it opens up many positive opportunities for the community and their role and contribution to the country,” he said.
Benedick stressed that the declaration to group the indigenous peoples of Sabah under the "Momogun" term is very positive.
On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister and Keningau MP Jeffrey said that although the terms "Momogun" and "Kadazandusun" are widely recognised, it is, however, not inclusive enough.
“They primarily describe the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic groups, and do not adequately represent other significant indigenous communities such as the Bajau, Bisaya, Kedayan, Irranun, and many others.
"This lack of inclusivity risks alienating these groups, making them feel overlooked and marginalised,” he said.
In his opinion, Jeffrey believes that it was more imperative that the term “Natives of Sabah” or “Anak Negeri Sabah” be adopted in official government documents to represent all indigenous peoples of the state.
“These terms are not only inclusive but also legally grounded, being defined in Article 161A(6)(b) of the Federal Constitution and Article 41(10) of the State Constitution.
“They align with the Sabah Interpretation (Definition of Natives) Ordinance, providing a legally sound and respectful way to acknowledge all indigenous peoples in Sabah,” he said in a statement.
Jeffrey added that adopting his preferred term is not just a matter of terminology, but also a matter of respect, recognition, and unity.
“It is a step towards ensuring that every indigenous community in Sabah feels seen, valued, and included. This is crucial for fostering a more cohesive and united Sabah, where all indigenous peoples are recognised as equal and essential parts of the state’s identity and future.”
He called on all government agencies, civil society organisations, and the people of Sabah to support this necessary change.
“Let us come together to honour the true diversity and richness of our state's indigenous peoples. It is time to move beyond outdated and disrespectful classifications and adopt language that truly reflects our identity and values,” he said.
Meanwhile, his elder brother Joseph remains firm in his stance that Sabahan natives should be identified by their specific ethnic groups rather than by the term "lain-lain".
Reflecting on his long-held position as the Huguan Siou (the Kadazandusun paramount leader), Pairin said the term "lain-lain" should be scrapped and that the non-Malays, Chinese or Indians should name their respective races or ethnic groups.
“If you are a Kadazandusun, write down Kadazandusun, if you’re a Murut, put Murut, and if you’re a Bajau, just write Bajau. Just do that,” he said when contacted.
The former Sabah chief minister believes that removing the "lain-lain" term and replacing it with specific ethnic identifications will better honour the identities of Sabah’s indigenous communities and improve the accuracy of data collection.
