In search of the lost "tataba"

The tataba is a magic wand in the Dusun mythology. It is, however, no longer used by the Kadazandusuns in the modern times. It is lost in the mid of the advancement of the socio-cultural life of the Kadazandusuns. The Kadazandusuns are now looking for a different kind of tataba - one that propelled the Kadazandusuns to prominence in the early 1960s and 1980s. The elusive tataba that the Kadazandusuns have been looking after losing it in 1994 is the oft-repeated and over-used word, unity.

Recently, the three Kadazandusun-based parties in Sabah -- PBS (Parti Bersatu Sabah), UPKO (United Pasok Momogun Organisation) and PBRS (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) -- held a gathering at the famed KDCA (Kadazandusun Cultural Association) building in Penampang. The "misompuru" (unity meet) is widely seen as a symbolic event that rekindles the Kadazandusun nationalistic movement during the eras of Donald Stephens and Joseph Pairin Kitingan. Stephens formed UPKO in the early 1960s to represent the Kadazans at the height of the formation of Malaysia in 1963. Pairin formed PBS in 1985 as a response to BERJAYA's pro federal policies that caused the Kadazandusuns to lose their cultural significance.

In 1968, Stephens dissolved UPKO in the name of "indigenous unity" after failing to prevent UPKO's members from joining USNO (United Sabah National Organisation), a Muslim-based party led by Mustapha Harun. Stephens joined USNO with the remaining members of UPKO. This was generally regarded as the end of Kadazandusun preeminence. In 1985, the Kadazandusuns once again had the chance to exert their influence through PBS. Despite PBS's multiracial outlook, it was mainly a Kadazandusun-based party. Pairin who formed and led PBS was also (and still is) the Huguan Siou (paramount and brave leader) of the Kadazandusuns. At the same time, Pairin also led the KCA (Kadazan Cultural Association. Now Kadazandusun Cultural Association). This gave Pairin enourmous influence over the Kadazandusuns. Under Pairin, PBS won the successive state elections in 1986, 1990, and 1994. PBS was fighting along state issues and wanted the federal government to restore the Twenty Point memorandum and to give more recognition to the Malaysian Agreement 1963. Such strong regional overtones, however, irked the then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who regarded Pairin as a "dangerous" regional leader.

When PBS failed to force the federal government to accede to its demands, it left BN in 1990 at the elevant hour before nomination for the 1990 general election. This angered Mahathir who called Pairin's action as a "stab in the back". Sabah was under the opposition PBS until 1994. Despite PBS being democratically elected, it was treated indifferently by the federal government. Federal allocation was cut off substantially and Pairin, on a number of occasions, was even snubbed by federal officials despite his role as Sabah chief minister elect. By 1994, federal influence in Sabah became more pronounced with UMNO’s (United Malays National Organisation) entry into local politics. USNO was effectively dissolved and its members joined UMNO en masse. In the 1994 state election, PBS won once more with a razor-thin majority and formed the next government. But with only two-seat majority in the state legislative assembly, PBS failed to prevent its members from leaving the party. Two of Pairin's deputies and founding members of PBS Bernard Dompok and Joseph Kurup were also leaving PBS. With the massive exodus, PBS's nine-year rule ended abruptly. James Chin wrote that the fall of PBS in 1994 signifies the "end of Kadazan unity". After almost 12 years in the opposition, PBS returned to BN in 2002. There is no better explanation as to why PBS decided to be part of the ruling party once again other than its desire to survive. Since then, the Kadazandusuns are represented by PBS, UPKO and PBRS.

At the recent misompuru, Pairin, Dompok and Kurup saw eye to eye once again. The rendition of PBS's official anthem "bersatu" brought Pairin, Dompok and Kurup to the PBS's heyday in the 1980s. Dompok and Kurup, however, did not show any sign of regret in dithcing PBS. Pairin was neither apologetic about his failure to prevent his two deputies from leaving him. Obviously, the three Kadazandusun leaders did not use the misompuru to set a new vision to develop the Kadazandusuns. Kurup who was given the opportunity to talk first did not mince his words in saying that it is about time the Kadazandusun-based parties to unite after a long separation. Dompok who is seen as more vocal in championing the Kadazandusun cultural rights spoke at length about the illegal immigrant problems. He also suggested that the Malaysian ICs be re-issued so that only genuine Sabahans are recognised as citizens. Pairin was clearly not as combative as he used to in the 1980s. Reading from a prepared text, Pairin did not offer any new idea on the future direction of the Kadazandusuns.

Despite the "success" of the misompuru, Pairin, Dompok and Kurup have failed to convince the Kadazandusuns that they are willing to walk the talk in achieving real Kadazandusun unity. The misompuru is largely seen as an attempt to consolidate the Kadazandusun support in BN. In the past months or so, the Kadazandusuns have been quite unhappy with the failure of their leaders to speak up on issues such as the illegal immigrants, cultural rights of the Kadazandusuns, and under-representation of the Kadazandusuns in the state and federal service. BN is also wary of the split in Kadazandusun support after the formation of STAR Sabah led by Pairin's younger brother Jeffrey Kitingan. Not all Kadazandusuns support Jeffrey but he has a substantial number of loyal Kadazandusun supporters in the interior.

In the end, many Kadazandusuns were left disappointed despite the "historic" misompuru. PBS, UPKO and PBRS are set to remain as they are for the time being. There is no sign that either Pairin, Dompok or Kurup is willing to step down as president of their respective party, nor is there any indication that they are willing to form a single entity to represent the Kadazandusuns. For some people, Kadazandusun unity can only be achieved if Dompok and Kurup return to PBS. At the very least, many Kadazandusuns want the three Kadazandusun leaders to set aside their ego and to form a new entity led by young and progressive Kadazandusun blood. Otherwise, the Kadazandusuns will never (ever) find the lost tataba.