Kadazandusun, Sabah's heritage bearers and nation builders

HISTORY | The Kadazandusun (also spelt Kadazan-Dusun) are the largest ethnic group in Sabah (formerly North Borneo), Malaysia.
The term 'Kadazandusun' was officially adopted to unify two closely related groups: the Kadazan, who traditionally inhabited the coastal and lowland areas of western Sabah, and the Dusun, who predominantly resided in the interior and highland regions.

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Daily Express

5 days ago

• Daily Express

What began in 1986 must continue, Madius on preservation of Kadazandusun language

Published on: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 18, 2025 Text Size: Madius presenting appreciation certificates to Kadazandusun language teachers. Tuaran: Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau welcomed efforts to strengthen the preservation of the Kadazandusun Language through initiatives such as the Kadazandusun Language Carnival for the Nabalu Zone held at SK Tomis, here. He said events like these are vital in raising public awareness about the importance of safeguarding the mother tongue from extinction, particularly among the younger generation. Advertisement 'This carnival is very important as it reminds us of the need to use our mother tongue in communication. If we do not act now, our language may one day disappear,' he said when officiating the event, recently. Madius said studies by Unesco revealed there are around 7,000 indigenous languages at risk of extinction, which may eventually become dead languages due to the absence of speakers. By the year 2050, 90 per cent of these languages are expected to be extinct – much like Sanskrit and Latin. He also shared his long and challenging journey in advocating for the Kadazandusun language, which began in 1986 when he was first elected as a Supreme Council Member of the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA), later becoming Chairman of the KDCA Language and Literature Committee. Among the main efforts initiated during that time was the development of the Kadazandusun Language Dictionary and the selection of a standard dialect to be used within the Malaysian education system. 'We began in 1986, but it was no easy task. Eventually, the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Sabah appointed a Research Officer – my colleague Alice Jekop – in 1988 to lead the research team. 'Many contributed their efforts, including Ben Topin, Rita Lasimbang and others. The dictionary was only published in 1995, nearly 10 years later and thanks to everyone involved. 'The dictionary was based on the Kadazan dictionary by Fr Antonissen, with the support of various parties, especially the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). Although it took a long time, it was finally completed,' he said. The Kadazandusun Language Symposium held at Perkasa Hotel, Kundasang – supported by Canadian University Students Overseas (Cuso) – also laid the foundation for unifying the Bundu and Liwan dialects, which today form the basis of the Kadazandusun Language. 'It's quite remarkable that in the same year the Kadazan dictionary was printed – 1995 – an agreement was reached between KDCA and USDA to formalise the combination of the 'Bundu' and 'Liwan' dialects into what is now known as the 'Bunduliwan' dialect, officially branded as the Kadazandusun Language. 'Today, Kadazandusun is taught as a subject within the national education system. Many have graduated with specialisations in the language at PhD, Master's and Bachelor's levels, and thousands of students are currently learning it from kindergarten and Year One right up to SPM level,' said Madius. He expressed full support for efforts of teachers in the district to establish Tinimungan Manampasi Boros Kadazandusun (Timbok) – an initiative to strengthen the teaching and learning of the language, while also providing opportunities for retired Kadazandusun language teachers to remain actively involved in writing, research, and other activities to preserve the language. He said this year's carnival theme Apasi Boros, Apasi Tinaru (Appreciate Language, Appreciate Culture), was highly appropriate in nurturing a love for one's own language and culture. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Malaysiakini

15-06-2025

• Malaysiakini

Kadazandusun, Sabah's heritage bearers and nation builders

HISTORY | The Kadazandusun (also spelt Kadazan-Dusun) are the largest ethnic group in Sabah (formerly North Borneo), Malaysia. The term 'Kadazandusun' was officially adopted to unify two closely related groups: the Kadazan, who traditionally inhabited the coastal and lowland areas of western Sabah, and the Dusun, who predominantly resided in the interior and highland regions.

The Star

08-06-2025

• The Star

Kadazan man told not 'Malaysian enough' to rent room in Puchong

KOTA KINABALU: When Kinney Junior Clarence applied to rent a room in Bukit Puchong, he anticipated the usual questions from agents, such as location, job, budget, and race. What the 37-year-old customer service specialist from Sabah did not expect was to be indirectly told that he was not "Malaysian enough." Clarence, who has lived and worked in the Klang Valley for about five years, shared a conversation on Threads that left many netizens both amused and annoyed. He had applied for a room via a rental site and, as per routine, filled in his details, listing his ethnicity as Kadazan. To his surprise, the property agent replied that the unit was "reserved for local Malaysians only." "I was stunned. I replied, 'Kadazan is Sabahan, sister! I'm Malaysian too," Kinney told The Star. Despite his explanation, he said the agent never responded after that. Rather than getting angry, Clarence chose to laugh it off. "It was funny and a bit infuriating at the same time, because it is such a basic thing. Kadazan is not even a rare ethnicity. Imagine if I had mentioned some of the lesser-known races in Sabah," he said. Clarence added that this was not the first time he had encountered such ignorance. "People in the peninsula often confuse ethnic groups in Sabah and Sarawak. Some think Iban is from Sabah, or Kadazan from Sarawak. It is common, but still disappointing," he said. Originally from Penampang, he returned to the Klang Valley to build his career after the Covid-19 pandemic, having previously studied there. He said he was looking for a room in Bukit Puchong simply because it was closer to his office. Fortunately, Kinney has since found a better place, which he described as "closer to work, better, and with no issues like that." His post has since gone viral, receiving over 1,700 likes and 298 comments, many from fellow East Malaysians sharing similar experiences. One Sarawakian said the issue extended beyond house hunting, recounting job interviews where she was told, "Sorry, we only hire Malaysians at the moment." Another recalled being welcomed to "Malaysia" by fellow university students on her first day of class, despite being from Sabah. One commenter from rural Sarawak joked that as a Kenyah, they were mistaken for someone from East Africa's Kenya. Others questioned how such confusion could still happen, with one suggesting the agent "retake her History and Geography papers." Despite the humour, Clarence hopes Malaysians, especially in Peninsular Malaysia, will make more effort to understand the country's cultural and ethnic diversity. "Come on lah, it's 2025. We should not still be asking if someone from Sabah is Malaysian," he said.