Wednesday 13 February 2013

Kadazandusun association demands apology from Anwar over 'Huguan Siou' title conferment

Huguan Siou TS Joseph Pairin
KOTA KINABALU: The Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) has demanded apologies from the Ranau PKR division and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the conferment of the "Huguan Siou" title to the PKR adviser.

Its secretary-general Suman Yasambun said the Huguan Siou or paramount chief title was exclusively reserved for a Kadazandusun Murut leader, and culturally inappropriate and illegal to be bestowed on a non-Kadazandusun Murut.

"It has insulted and hurt the feelings of the Kadazandusun community. In fact, it is an act that will bring the curse upon a person or persons who usurp the leadership structure within the Kadazandusun community, especially in relation to the institution of Huguan Siou," he said in a statement Wednesday.

Anwar drew flak when he accepted the title bestowed on him by Ranau PKR head Jonathan Yasin on Sunday.

Suman said "Huguan Siou" was an institution that embodied the community's spirit of unity, courage and self-determination.

"He is the guardian of the Kadazandusun Murut customs, norms, artefacts and traditions which were celebrated every year through the Kaamatan festival," he said.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the title was sacred to the Kadazadusun Murut community and should only bestowed on those from the community.

He said the person who bestowed the title was probably trying to gain political mileage and it was unbecoming of Anwar to accept it for he had been in politics and government for years.

Masidi said any action deemed to belittle the Huguan Siou institution would undermine Sabah's cultural heritage and that political agenda should not override the interests of Sabahans.

United Sabah Bajau Organisation president Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said the "Huguan Siou" saga showed that Anwar was ignorant of the cultures of the various ethnic groups in Sabah in his quest for power.

"He has insulted Sabahans. How do we expect Sabahans to trust him?" he said.

Liberal Democratic Party president Datuk V.K. Liew said there was only one "Huguan Siou" in Sabah, namely Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. - Bernama

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Sahih International

And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.

Malay

Dan hendaklah ada di antara kamu satu puak yang menyeru (berdakwah) kepada kebajikan (mengembangkan Islam), dan menyuruh berbuat segala perkara yang baik, serta melarang daripada segala yang salah (buruk dan keji). Dan mereka yang bersifat demikian ialah orang-orang yang berjaya.

(Surat Ali-Imran 3:104)

Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Janganlah kamu mengambil orang-orang yang bukan dari kalangan kamu menjadi "orang dalam" (yang dipercayai). Mereka tidak akan berhenti-henti berusaha mendatangkan bencana kepada kamu. Mereka sukakan apa yang menyusahkan kamu. Telahpun nyata (tanda) kebencian mereka pada pertuturan mulutnya, dan apa yang disembunyikan oleh hati mereka lebih besar lagi. Sesungguhnya telah kami jelaskan kepada kamu keterangan-keterangan itu jika kamu (mahu) memahaminya.

Awaslah! Kamu ini adalah orang-orang (yang melanggar larangan), kamu sahajalah yang suka (dan percayakan mereka, sedang mereka tidak suka kepada kamu. kamu juga beriman kepada segala Kitab Allah (sedang mereka tidak beriman kepada Al-Quran). Dan apabila mereka bertemu dengan kamu mereka berkata: "Kami beriman", tetapi apabila mereka berkumpul sesama sendiri, mereka menggigit hujung jari kerana geram marah (kepada kamu), katakanlah (wahai Muhammad): "Matilah kamu dengan kemarahan kamu itu". Sesungguhnya Allah sentiasa mengetahui akan segala (isi hati) yang ada di dalam dada.

(Surat Ali Imran 3:118-119)

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