PENAMPANG: Seventy-five ethnic-based associations signed a declaration agreeing to the use of 'Momogun' as a generic term for the Dusunic, Murutic, and Paitanic-speaking groups in Sabah.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the declaration and agreement could result in positive outcomes in various aspects for the indigenous and native communities of Sabah.
"In forming the government's economic policies, data and statistics about the population are crucial. Therefore, this declaration and the decision by the ethnic associations can create opportunities for positive developments within the community, highlighting their roles and contributions to the country.
"It is not appropriate to use "lain-lain" (others) section in official government forms as identification for Sabah's indigenous communities," he said during the closing ceremony of the Momogun Grand Convention at the Penampang Cultural Centre, here, yesterday.
Ewon who is also the President of the United Kinabalu Progressive Organisation (UPKO) said he remains proud of being Kadazan and the Kadazandusun language, despite supporting the use of the term 'Momogun.'
"I support the declaration and have a responsibility to bring this matter to the federal government," he said.
Earlier, 84 ethnic-based associations attended the convention.
Ewon said the convention was a highly significant policy decision following the first convention in the early 1960s, which chose the name for the Kadazan, Dusun, or Momogun people at that time.
Ewon made the 'Momogun' proposal in April this year at the Sabah state assembly sitting.
Since then, many professionals have debated the appropriate terminology to identify Sabah's indigenous peoples.
Just yesterday, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the term "Natives of Sabah" should be adopted in official government documents as it would represent all Indigenous peoples in the state.