PENAMPANG: There is nothing wrong with the term Momogun and for some to continue calling themselves Momogun, said KDCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan“It is okay. Institutionally, though, we should be called Kadazandusun with all the sub-ethnic groups as a common name,” Jeffrey said, supporting the call by his brother, Huguan Siou and Kadazandusun Cultural Association President Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
“The best thing about this is you can coexist. You do not have to lose anything, but you gain more. The journey to find a common identity has been recorded in history and we have practised it in the Kaamatan.
“Through this dialogue, we have accepted Kadazandusun as our common collective name, while still having our own ethnic identities. What we need to do is give it fertiliser and water so that the tree will grow and bear fruit,” he said.
There had also been calls to use “Momogun” as the collective name to appear in official forms which now describe Sabah’s indigenous groups as “lain Lain”.
The KDCA wrote to the Chief Minister on July 3, 2016 and Dec 7, 2022 asking for the term Kadazandusun to be gazetted as the official generic identity of the community.
As of Sept 19, 2026, it had yet to receive an official decision. The KDCA Constitution lists 49 ethnic and sub-ethnic communities under its umbrella.
Representatives from about 40 ethnic and sub-ethnic communities agreed at the Kadazandusun Dialogue 2026 at Hongkod Koisaan on Sept 19, to be known collectively as “Kadazandusun” while keeping their own names, languages and customs.
They signed a Unity Charter pledging to stay united. “We are not here to compete. We have no intention to force anyone. We are sharing what our ancestors passed down to us and what our earlier leaders carried forward,” Pairin said at the event.
“What we celebrate now is a destination we have already reached, where many of those who took part in the dialogue have accepted Kadazandusun as the umbrella name of our people,” said Pairin.
“The number may increase, because some of our relatives who live far from towns or schools may have their own group names. We can pool our energy and thinking to strengthen our resolve for a better future,” he said.
Pairin said the dialogue was meant to bring the community towards unity and understanding and that the results were being shared so people who were not there could follow them.
Additionally, he said all sub-ethnic groups must be included in KDCA programmes throughout the year.
“We cannot say that once a year we hold a function and then call them. They must be included in all our programmes, continuously, so that they have a sense of belonging.” Also present was KDCA Deputy President Datuk John Anthony, who listed loss of mother tongue and identity confusion among the challenges facing the community.
“Cultural dilution and identity crisis. We are facing this crisis. We do not even know what the name of our people is,” he said.
The Kadazandusun dialogue drew 153 participants from 40 ethnic and sub-ethnic communities.
Participants traced the shared history of the identity, discussed the KDCA umbrella concept and heard that ethnic identity is the root, Kadazandusun the collective identity and KDCA the institutional umbrella.
Four milestones marked the effort to build a shared identity, namely the first United National Kadazan Organisation (Unko) Conference in 1961, the merging of Kadazan and Dusun in 1989, the 1995 language agreement with the United Sabah Dusun Association and the 2004 resolution.
Meanwhile, the 40 ethnic and sub-ethnic communities that signed the Unity Charter to collectively be known as Kadazandusun are; Bundu, Gana, Idaan, Kimaragang, Kolobuan, Kuijau, Liwan, Lotud, Lundayeh, Malapi, Mangkaak, Murut Binta, Murut Tahol, Murut Paluan, Murut Nabai, Murut Tangala, Paitan, Rumanau, Rungus, Sinobu, Sukang, Sungai, Tatana, Tangara, Tidong, Tobilung, Tombonuo, Tuhawon, Subpan, Tinagas, Tompizos, Luba, Kuizou, Dusun Segamo, Dusun Nunuk Ragang, Begak, Sogilitan, Turavid, Dusun Labuk and Tompulung.
