Festival Momogun cadangan OAS disokong USLA

 Richard Libun Adou (kiri) bersama Stephen Nogiris pada pertemuan Sabtu lalu di Wisma Kinsabina, Penampang.

KOTA KINABALU: Persatuan Lotud Sabah Bersatu (USLA) memberikan sokongan penuh untuk penganjuran sambutan perayaan baru bagi masyarakat Momogun, yang akan dikenali sebagai Festival Momogun (Momogun Festival).

Timbalan Presiden USLA, Richard Libun Adou, dalam satu kenyataan d sini bahawa sambutan tahunan baharu ini merupakan tambahan yang sangat baik kepada Pesta Kaamatan yang dibiayai kerajaan pada masa kini.

"Dengan penganjuran Festival Momogun, orang Momogun akan dapat meningkatkan lagi identiti kolektif mereka," kata Adou. "Kami juga akan dapat mempunyai lebih kebebasan dalam menyusun format festival itu mengikut citarasa budaya asli tulen setiap daerah d mana festival itu akan dianjurkan.

Festival ini sebenarnya hasil idea Pertubuhan Orang Asal Momogun Sabah (OAS). Dalam mengumumkan sambutan budaya baharu ini pada "Perbincangan Agenda Pembangunan Momogun" yang dianjurkan oleh Kongres Kebangsaan Momogun (MNC) dan diadakan di bangunan Kinsabina di Penampang pada Sabtu lepas, Presiden OAS, Stephen Nogiris, berkata festival itu tidak bertujuan untuk bersaing dengan Pesta Kaamatan yang telah lama bertapak tetapi untuk melengkapkannya dengan ciri sosiobudaya tambahan sejajar dengan visi OAS untuk "melindungi, memelihara, mempertahan dan menyempurnakan warisan dari nenek moyang, kebudayaan (termasuk adat dan tradisi, seni, kraftangan, pakaian tradisional, dan bahasa ibunda orang Momogun)."

Nogiris berkata sambutan sulung festival ini akan dilangsungkan oleh OAS di Kota Marudu pada 26 Oktober, yang akan dirasmikan oleh seorang menteri kanan negeri. "Semua yang hadir dijemput dengan ikhlas ke pelancaran sejarah Momogun Festival ini." katanya.

Sementara itu, Presiden MNC, Tan Sri Wences Angang menyokong idea festival itu, dan berkata ia akan dibawa untuk perbincangan dalam mesyuarat majlis tertinggi MNC. "Saya rasa mulai tahun depan adalah terbaik diadakan sempena sambutan Hari Orang Asal Sedunia yang diadakan setiap tahun pada 9 Ogos. Ini kerana sambutan hari orang asal juga akan dianjurkan di Sabah oleh MNC."

Adou berkata USLA juga akan membincangkan perkara ini dalam mesyuarat majlis tertingginya dengan harapan untuk meraikannya juga.

"Kami faham bahawa Momogun Festival tidak ada kaitan dengan menuai hasil padi tetapi ia semata-mata sambutan meraihkan warisan budaya Momogun," katanya. "Oleh itu tidak harus ada sebarang isu konflik, tetapi harus menyokongnya sebagai satu usaha mempelbagai   dan untuk meningkatkan lagi ekspresi warisan budaya kita yang begitu kaya."#

The english version :

KOTA KINABALU:  The United Sabah Lotud Association (USLA) is giving full support for the creation of a new statewide native celebration, to be called Momogun Festival.

USLAs deputy president, Richard Libun Adou, said in a statement that the new annual celebration is an excellent addition to our current government-funded Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival).

“With the institution of the Momogun Festival, the Momoguns will be able to further enhance the Momogun collective identity,” Adou said. “We will also be able to have more freedom in creating the festival’s format in accordance to the pure native culture of the respective districts they will be organized.”

The festival is actually the brainchild of the Sabah Original People Momogun Organization (Pertubuhan Orang Asal Momogun Sabah) or OAS. In announcing the new cultural celebration at the “Momogun Development Agenda Discussion” organized by the Momogun National Congress (MNC) and held at the Kinsabina building in Penampang last Saturday, OAS’ President, Stephen Nogiris, said that the festivsal is not intended to compete with the long-established Pesta Kaamatan but to complement it with additional sociocultural features in line with OAS’ vision to “protect, preserve, defend and to refine our cultural heritages, culture (including customs and tradition, art, handicrafts, costumes, and mother tongues of the Momogun people.”

Nogiris said that the inaugural celebration will be organized by OAS in Kota Marudu on October 26, to be officiated by a senior state minister. “All are cordially invited to this history launch of the Momogun Festival,” he said.

Meanwhile the President of the MNC, Tan Sri Wences Angang is supportive of the festival’s idea, and said it will be brought for discussion in the MNC’s supreme council meeting. “I feel that starting next year it is best held in conjunction with the World’s Indigenous Peoples Day celebration, annually held on the 9th August. This is because the indigenous day celebration will also be organized in Sabah by MNC.”

Adou said that USLA will also discuss the matter in its supreme council meeting with the hope to celebrate it as well. 

“We understand that the Momogun Festival has no connection with harvesting yields but purely a celebration of the Momogun’s collective cultural heritage,” he said. “As such there shouldn’t be any issue of conflict, but rather a diversification and to further enhance the expression of our rich cultural heritage.”#

Madani coalition govt may just fall like previous PH, warns Arutchelvan of PSM

         S. Arutchelvan of Parti Sosialis Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR : Lack of consultation and discipline among its lawmakers was how the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal administration collapsed, said Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan.

Drawing a comparison to the current Madani government, he said, just like before, PH is delivering on promises it did not make instead of living up to its reformist manifesto.

He was referring to the sudden collapse of the previous PH Federal Government in February 2020, when then PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad quit his post amid the infamous Sheraton Move.

“Now the police once again are forced to investigate multiple police reports under 3R (race, religion, and royalty) when these comments are really general concerns and protected under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution on freedom of expression.

“The prime minister needs to keep his unity government in unity,” said Arutchelvan in a statement days ago. It was carried among others by newsportal the malaysiakini.

Arutchelvan was commenting on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks regarding Seputeh MP Teresa Kok's non-supporting of the Madani's proposal to make halal certification mandatory to all business entities that don't sell alcohol or pork.

Yesterday, Anwar clarified that the DAP vice-chairperson’s statement against a proposal for mandatory halal certification did not represent PH stance. 

Both PKR and DAP are component members of PH which is currently in coalition with the Umno-led Barisan Nasional, once the numero uno enemy of PH.

Anwar said Kok’s statement on the matter sparked an unnecessary and irrelevant controversy.

The day before, Kok said the proposed move could increase the burden on businesses, including thousands of Malay restaurant operators.

This came after reports that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) was mulling a proposal to make halal certification mandatory for restaurants and food companies that do not serve pork or alcohol.

Kok’s criticism of the mandatory halal certification proposal caused an uproar among conservative politicians including Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

The police are also investigating her for allegedly causing religious offence and making statements conducive to public mischief.

A number of Sabah politicians like Dr Edwin Bosi of Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri and Dr Julia Ongkili of Parti Sedar Rakyat have also came out supporting Teresa, while calling onthe Government to rethink its proposal to make it mandatory to have halal certificate for traders as long as they don't sell pork and alcohol.#

Sijil HALAL tak boleh dipaksakan, ia mungkin langgar Perlembagaan Persekutuan

Oleh Dr Julia Emelda Ongkili, 13-9-2024

SAYA menyokong pandangan ramai yang tidak menyokong cadangan Menteri Agama mewajibkan semua kedai yang tidak menjual alkohol dan babi supaya mendapatkan sijil halal JAKIM.

Bukan sahaja cadangan ini kurang praktikal, menyusahkan, bahkan ia mungkin bertentangan dengan Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang menjamin kebebasan beragama.

Cadangan memandatori sijil halal kepada semua kedai asalkan ia tidak menjual arak atau babi, bagus untuk JAKIM kerana ia bakal mengutip hasil berbilion tetapi merugikan para peniaga.

Sijil halal patut terus opsional bukan wajib, lebih-lebih lagi Malaysia ini adalah negara berbilang kaum dan agama.

Negara-negara Islam lain pun tidak memaksakan persijilan halal, bahkan mereka amat menghormati sensitiviti kaum lain tidak seagama Islam. Ini yang patut kita contohi.

Lagipun kos konsultansi mendapatkan sijil halal dilaporkan boleh mencecah dari RM5,000 sehingga RM20,000 bergantung kepada jenis perniagaan.

Cara kerajaan menangani cadangan balas YB Teresa Kok juga tidak betul, sebab beliau hanya memberi maklum balas kepada cadangan Menteri Agama sebagai wakil rakyat yang kini terbukti disokong ramai.

Malaysia sepatutnya mengamalkan sikap lebih terbuka dan inklusif, bukannya semakin sempit dan memaksakan program agama kepada orang lain. Sekian.#

Dr Julia Emelda Ongkili adalah seorang aktivis masyarakat yang sangat aktif melayani komuniti terpinggir. Beliau masa ini juga Timbalan Pengerusi Majlis Kerja Negeri Sabah bagi Parti Sedar Rakyat .

Salvation Army Sabah anjur Bazar Amal 16 September ini

INANAM : Salvation Army (SA) Sabah akan menganjurkan Bazar Amal pada 16 September 2024 ini di pekarangan pejabatnya di Taman Seri Kionsom dekat sini.

Bazar sehari itu akan bermula pada jam 9 pagi dan berakhir pada jam 1 petang. Pelbagai juadah, kuih, buah-buahan, minuman, alat mainan kanak-kanak dan "bundle" akan dijual pada hari itu.

Orang ramai yang ingin membeli kupon bernilai RM20 satu kupon atau RM200 sebuku kupon boleh menghubungi Envoi SA, Andrew Sogindal di talian 011-64883321.

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Inanam, Peto Galim, dijadual merasmikan bazar berkenaan.

Salvation Army mengadakan bazar amal sebagai antara programnya untuk memperkasa pelayanan masyarakat di Sabah.#

Police report on Teresa Kok unnecessary, says Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri

                        Teresa Kok Su Sim

By Jayden Lisandu, 12-9-2024

KOTA KINABALU : Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (ANAK NEGERI) has described the torrent of criticisms, police reports and subsequent police criminal investigation against DAP Publicity Chief Teresa Kok for her alleged remarks on halal certification as unwarranted and unnecessary. 

ANAK NEGERI Supreme Council Member, Dr Edwin Bosi, said, he was dismayed by the hostile reaction, and the fact that comments on halal certification could become highly seditious. 

Bosi who was formerly the Kepayan State Assemblyman said the mandatory halal certification for all food eateries that serve no pork and no alcohol as proposed by the Minster in the prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Naim Mokhtar is a public policy proposal, not a religious edict.

"I understand the political sensitivity of commenting on Islamic religious edict, but I do not understand why Non Muslim political leaders cannot comment on public policies such as a mandatory halal certification which are applicable to both Muslim and Non Muslim food eateries."

"I strongly feel the police investigation on Teresa Kok is not only unwarranted and unnecessary, but also a travesty of justice and a total mockery to our democratic system."

Bosi urge the police to quickly wrapp up their investigation, absolve her of the alleged crime and stop the antics of political intimidation against her."

Bosi said instead of making police reports, concerned political leaders should engage in a dialog or public discussion over the matter.

Meanwhile, Bosi noted that halal certification is voluntary in Sabah and urged the Sabah State government to keep the status quo. 

He said Sabah must continue to manage its own halal certification under Majlis Ugama Islam Sabah (MUIS) and reject any attempt by JAKIM, a Federal Agency, to enforce their proposed policies in Sabah. 

He said the introduction and enforcement of mandatory halal certification will be a huge financial and operational burden to small Muslim and non Muslim food vendors. 

 

"Most street stalls or vendors in Sabah do not have the necessary resources to apply and fulfill the strict requirements of the halal certification," he added.#