Educationist disputes Tangau’s statement on Bundu-Liwan

KOTA KINABALU: No agreement was reached 30 years ago on the use of Bundu-Liwan as the standard and official Kadazandusun Language and to be taught in schools.

“This contradicts the statement made by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Madius Tangau that was highlighted in the newspapers recently,” said Evelyn Annol, an educationist who was a part of the panel directly involved in designing the curriculum.

There were two documents signed by KadazanDusun Cultural Association (KDCA) and United Sabah Dusun Association (USDA), she said in response to Tangau's statement.

The first document was the 'Perjanjian Perisytiharan Bahasa Kadazandusun Sebagai Bahasa Rasmi Di antara KDCA and USDA', she added.

This document was signed by Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan (now Tan Sri) (KDCA president), witnessed by Datuk Wilfred M. Bumburing (KDCA secretary general) and the late Datuk Mark Koding (USDA president), witnessed by Raymond Boin Tombung (USDA secretary general), she added.

But this document was only signed on January 24, 1995, according to Evelyn.

She said the second document was the 'Perisytiharan Persetujuan Dialek BunduLiwan sebagai dialek asas pemiawaian dan pembakuan Bahasa Kadazandusun di antara KDCA dan USDA'.

This document was signed by Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan (now Tan Sri) (KDCA president), witnessed by Benedict Topin (KOISAAN secretary general) and Datuk Mark Koding (USDA president) witnessed by Raymond Boin Tombung (USDA secretary general). This document was only signed on April 11, 1995.

Evelyn, who is also a supreme council member of Kadazan Society Sabah, further said there was no resolution obtained during a Kadazan Cultural Association (KCA)-organized symposium held at the Perkasa Hotel in Kundasang on January 13, 1989.

“No agreement was ever signed during the symposium because the stakeholders could not come to consensus on what standard dialect to be used.”

The KCA–organized symposium was held in 1989 and not in 1988 as claimed by Tangau, she asserted.

Evelyn added that the BunduLiwan language is a created language and is not a pure ‘mother tongue' of any race in Sabah.

“It's a mixture of dialects. It was actually against the Akta Pendidikan 1996 (Akta 550). They came to know this when they were shown certain documents recently (soon after the GE14) which were ‘hidden in the files' that proves Bundu-Liwan language was not mentioned and should not have been used from the very beginning because its teachings are against the Education Act.

Evelyn said had we known about the existence of the documents then, the panel would have abided by the 'Tafsiran Bahasa Kaum Asli' and the proper 'Mother Tongue' languages would have been taught in schools now in Sabah.

“What should have been taught in schools if parents of 15 students or more requesting for their ‘Mother Tongue' to be taught in schools. This is to abide by under the Act.

‘Mother tongue' languages are such as Kadazan, Dusun, Rungus, Kimaragang, Iranun, Murut and so on. For that matter Bundu-Liwan language does not fall within the definition of the Act.

Evelyn said research had shown that notwithstanding children learning the BunduLiwan language in primary and secondary schools, they cannot master the language even though they come from 'Rumpun' Dusunic.

“Even teachers have problems teaching this created language. Parents are also confused with this created language making them unable to help their own children at home in respect of this language. I do not blame them as the language does not belong to any race. It is not the ‘Mother Tongue' of any race and defeats the purpose of which it was taught in the first place.”

Evelyn added that she hoped that this matter would be corrected soon according to the requirements of the Education Act.