PAPAR: The reported bestowing of the Huguan Siou title on opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a few days ago is nothing more than political posturing aimed at creating a new controversy to divert the people’s attention from more pressing issues.
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) information chief, Datuk Johnny Mositun, said by convention and tradition, the title of Huguan Siou was used for the Paramount Leader of the KDM people.
“Since 1962, when the institution of Huguan Siow was formalised through mutual consultation and agreement between the KDM tribes, its usage and protocols have never been questioned or infringed upon,” he said.
Mositun said he was just expressing his personal views, which had nothing to do with the fact that the current Huguan Siou, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, is also the president of PBS.
“The position is apolitical. The Huguan Siou represents all the KDM people regardless of their religious and political affiliations. It is wrong to politicise it or infringe upon its ethno-cultural sanctity,” he said.
He also said it was illogical to confer such an award on the leader of a party which had yet to win a general election to form the government.
Mositun pointed out that those who were responsible were misleading the people by saying that Huguan Siow was merely a KDM term meaning Paramount Leader and therefore had no qualms about conferring the title on Anwar Ibrahim.
“They further contend that this does not in any way usurp Tan Sri Pairin’s position because it is only meant to acknowledge Anwar as “Paramount Leader of all Malaysians” and not exclusively the KDM people,” Mositun said.
He said such reasoning defies logic because first of all, His Majesty the Yang Dipertuan Agong is the Head of State of Malaysia, meaning the leader of all Malaysians and no politicians, not even the Prime Minister could usurp or undermine the Institution of Kingship.
“And, as the title Huguan Siou is so significant and meaningful to the KDM community of Sabah, I personally feel that it was in bad taste and insensitive of those responsible,” he said.
He said this irresponsible and thoughtless action of a few people in PKR showed just how little was their understanding and regard for the KDM people and their culture.
“It could also be a desperate measure to try and retain influence with the KDM since their plan to forge an alliance with SAPP and STAR had not materialised,” Mositun said.