KOTA KINABALU, Sept 2 ― Prohibited from using the Keningau Oath Stone to launch a campaign reminding Sabahans of the promises made to them in the 1963 Malaysia agreement, the DAP and local groups are planning to place replicas of the historic monument all across the state.
The nascent notion arose after local natives were forced into a race to replicate the oath stone when the Keningau district office unexpectedly denied them permission to perform the traditional Maningolig ritual at the site.
The ritual is an annual ritual performed by a traditional Murut high priestess to commemorate the struggles of the past leaders, but this year also doubled as the launchpad for DAP’s Keningau Oath Stone campaign.
“There was mad scramble to produce a replica complete with inscription within some 24 hours and they (the natives) found a suitable stone, and transported it from the nearby village so they could still perform the ritual outside the gate of the district office,” said DAP national advisor Lim Kit Siang.
Lim pointedly thanked the district office for denying the locals permission to access the Keningau Oath Stone, as overcoming this had sparked the idea of possibly replicating the stone elsewhere in the state for the awareness campaign.
The campaign seeks to remind Sabahans of the three main points ― drawn from the Malaysia Agreement ― engraved in the Keningau Oath Stone.
These are the guarantee of religious freedom, the upholding of the state’s autonomy, and protecting native customs and traditions.
“To replicate the oath stone in Keningau and place them in every kampung in Sabah will be a fantastic method to spread awareness,” said Lim.
Retired political secretary Peter Saili will head the DAP Batu Sumpah campaign, which will collaborate with local groups such as Jaringan Orang Asal Sabah (JOAS) and Partners of Community Organisations in Sabah (Pacos) to reproduce the stones.
“We are still reviewing the details and mechanism of the campaign and we will reveal our plans soon,” said State DAP chairman Jimmy Wong at a Press conference here today.
The oath stone are significant to the local native community as it was erected as a reminder to the federal government to honour the 20 point agreement made before the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
The oath stone awareness campaign was among three campaigns that the party is launching.
Lim also said that they are launching a mass signature campaign to publicly release the findings from the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into illegal immigrants in Sabah.
The campaign will be headed by DAP Sabah state secretary Edwin Bosi, who wants the report to be made available by September 16, Malaysia Day, this year. The inquiry began in January last year was concluded last September.
“The Cobbold Commission on the formation of Malaysia took less than seven months in 1962 to publish its report from its first appointment in January 1962. Why is the RCI on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah taking more than two-and-a-half years from the Cabinet decision in Feb. 2012 for its establishment, and has still not made its report public?” said Lim in his statement.
The third campaign announced was a new movement targeted at the new generation of Malaysians to take over political leadership.
The Post-Malaysia Generation Movement will see Malaysians from the Peninsular come to Sabah and experience life in the State to better understand issues afflicting the people.
DAP’s Dyana Sofya who visited Keningau said the programme is aimed at creating a platform to recreate the spirit of liberty and justice for all Malaysians.
