Keningau Oath Stone

Keningau Oath Stone

Batu Sumpah Keningau
Coordinates	5°20′34.49″N 116°9′41.89″E / 5.3429139°N 116.1616361°E / 5.3429139; 116.1616361Coordinates: 5°20′34.49″N 116°9′41.89″E / 5.3429139°N 116.1616361°E / 5.3429139; 116.1616361
Location	Keningau, Sabah
Designer	Garukon Gurun
Type	Megalithic
Material	Stone
Dedicated to	Agreement between Interior Sabahan and Malaysia Government

Informations about Batu Sumpah Keningau at the District Office

The Keningau Oath Stone (Malay: Batu Sumpah Keningau) is a monument in Keningau, Sabah erected to commemorate the terms in which the former British Crown Colony of North Borneo joined the former colony of Sarawak and the other states of the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia.

History

Reservations to the formation of Malaysia

The proposal to form a larger federation of Malaysia comprising the recently independent nation of the Federation of Malaya, the British protectorate of Brunei, and the British Crown Colonies of North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore had met with some initial opposition from influential community leaders within the respective territories.

The North Borneo Legislative Council finally agreed to accede to the Malaysia Agreement on 12 September 1962 after presenting the 20-point agreement written by Fuad Stephens during the negotiations to form Malaysia.^[1] Despite this development, considerable apprehension and reservations still existed among the traditional native chiefs of Sabah known as the Orang Kaya-Kaya regarding the rights of the state within the new federation.^[2]

Guarantees set in stone

After a series of discussion and consultation, a proposal was made by the State Legislative Opposition Leader and traditional native chief, G. S. Sundang and his brother Datuk OKK Sedomon of the United Pasok-Momogun Kadazan Organisation (later re-organised as the United Pasok Nunukragang National Organisation, to erect an oath stone summarising the guarantees given by the Malaysian government to Sabah while reiterating the loyalty of the people of the Interior to Malaysia.^[3]

The District Officer of Keningau, Richard Lind (later to become the State Secretary of Sabah), was charged to oversee the erection of the oath stone and suitable boulder was taken from the Pegalan River near Kampung Dangulad, a small village in Keningau and carved by Garukon Gurun, former Sergeant Major of the legendary North Borneo Constabulary. A plaque was commissioned and made by the Thornycroft Shipyard in Singapore to be affixed to the stone.^[2]

Oath stone unveiled

Donald Stephens officiating the oath stone on 31 August 1964, an important agreement remembrance that has been promised between Sabahans and the Malaysian federal government.

The Keningau Oath Stone was finally unveiled and officiated on 31 August 1964 at the compound of the old Keningau District Office. The event was officiated by the Federal Minister of Labour, V. Manickavasagam and witnessed by state officials and community leaders including the Chief Minister, Donald Stephens of the United National Kadazan Organisation, G. S. Sundang, Ajamain bin Duraman the Chief of Police in Keningau, and other traditional native chiefs.^[2]

A Maningolig ritual with an animal sacrifice by a Bobolian (traditional priest) was held in accordance with the traditional beliefs of the Dusun people to bind the guarantees.^[3]

Plaque Inscription

The inscription on the plaque affixed to the Keningau Oath Stone is in the Malay language written in the old spelling system (pre-1972 Spelling Reform):^[4]

Batu Sumpah Peringatan Mengikut Parlambaga'an

1. Ugama Bebas Dalam Sabah
2. Tanah2 Dalam Sabah Di-Kuasa Oleh Kerajaan Sabah
3. Adat Istiadat Anak Rayat Sabah Di-hormatkan dan Di-pelihara Oleh Kerajaan

Sebalek Pula Rayat2 Sabah di Interior Bersumpah Ta'at Setia Kapada Kerajaan Malaysia

Translated, it reads:

Memorial Oath Stone according to the Constitution

1. Freedom of Religion in Sabah
2. The Government of Sabah Holds Authority over Land in Sabah
3. Native Customs and Traditions Will Be Respected and Upheld by the Government

In Return, the People of Sabah's Interior Pledges Loyalty to the Government of Malaysia

Trivia

In commemoration of Malaysia Day in 2010, Parti Keadilan Rakyat led by state party leader, Jeffrey Kitingan, re-enacted the Maningolig ritual at the monument. The sacrificed rooster was later found to be alive despite having its neck slit. Jeffrey Kitingan noted that this was possibly a symbolic reminder that not all the terms of the Malaysia Agreement had been honoured.^[5]

Controversy and criticism

During Malaysia Day celebration on 16 September 2014, the inscription of the stone was found to have been tampered with. The three words "Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin" (The Government of Malaysia guarantees) was removed from below the title "Batu Sumpah Peringatan Mengikut Parlambaga'an" (Memorial Oath Stone according to the Constitution).^[6][7][8] On 6 July 2015, the original plaque of the inscription was reportedly found by a resident staying in Kampung Apin-Apin. The plaque was later handed over to Sabah state assemblyman Jeffrey Kitingan.^[9] Meanwhile, Jeffrey has decided to hand over the plaque to Sabah chief minister Musa Aman in the next Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting.^[10] However, Sabah Museum Director, Joanna Kitingan, who is also Jeffrey's sister, expressed doubt about the originality of the newly discovered plaque.^[11]

On 30 January 2015, it was proposed that the oath stone would be relocated to the compound of Keningau Land and Survey Department with the missing words reinstated.^[12] In February 2016, the oath stone was proposed to be moved to Keningau Heritage Museum and will be gazetted as National Heritage Site.^[13]

The continuous delaying for relocation as well with the high cost reason for restoration from the federal government have been criticised by Sabahan politicians and perceived by them as the federal government did not have a real intention in keeping its promise.^[14][15] However, despite the persistent delays, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Joseph Kurup pledge that the stone will be restored and relocate together with the missing words of 'Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin'.^[16]

See also

• History of Malaysia
• History of Sabah
• Malaysia Day
• 20-point agreement (Sabah)
• Datuk Seri Panglima O.K.K Gunsanad Kina

References

History of East Malaysia
Main history1	Empire of Brunei Japanese occupation Borneo campaign British Military Administration Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation Malaysia Agreement Proclamation of Malaysia
History of Sabah	Brunei Civil War Sultanate of Sulu Austrian colony North Borneo Chartered Company British North Borneo Antanum Mat Salleh Madrid Protocol Jesselton Revolt Sandakan camp Sandakan Death Marches Battle of North Borneo Crown Colony of North Borneo Self-government of North Borneo Cobbold Commission 20-point agreement Keningau Oath Stone Double Six Crash Cross border attacks from the Philippines 1985 Lahad Datu ambush 2000 Sipadan kidnappings 2013 Lahad Datu standoff 1986 Sabah riots 1991 Sabah political arrests Sabah State Water Department corruption probe
History of Sarawak	Kingdom of Sarawak Rentap Liu Shan Bang Syarif Masahor Crown Colony of Sarawak Anti-cession movement of Sarawak Communist insurgency in Sarawak Self-government of Sarawak Cobbold Commission 18-point agreement 1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis 1987 Ming Court Affair
History of Labuan	Crown Colony of Labuan North Borneo Chartered Company Administered under Straits Settlements Battle of North Borneo Battle of Labuan Administered under Crown Colony of North Borneo Part of Sabah Became Federal Territory
1: Covers the three territories.