PENAMPANG: A replica of the Keningau Oath Stone has been set up in Kionsom, Inanam.
According to DAP Sabah secretary cum Kepayan assemblyman, Dr. Edwin Bosi, during a press conference held at party’s headquarters near here yesterday, the replica Oath Stone would be the first to be established outside of Keningau district.
He promised that more replica Oath Stones would be erected at various places in Sabah in order
to remind the people of Sabah of the promises made by the Malaysian government to the people of Sabah’s interior.
The guarantees made by the Malaysian government on Aug 31, 1964, were engraved on the Keningau Oath Stone stating the freedom of religion in Sabah; that the Sabah government will hold authority over lands in Sabah and Native traditions and customs would be respected and preserved by the government.
He added that an event to celebrate the establishment of the replica Keningau Oath Stone would be held on Oct 25 at about 2 pm and invited members of the public to witness the auspicious event.
Meanwhile, DAP Sabah chairman, Jimmy Wong, stressed on the importance of the Keningau Oath Stone and the guarantees that were engraved on it.
He added that he was saddened that the original Keningau Oath Stone has been tampered with and that a police report has been lodged.
“We are still waiting for the outcome of the police report…but we ask that the original words engraved on the stone be restored,” said Jimmy.
He also said that the offence was a serious one and that the people involved in altering the words on the Keningau Oath Stone should be heavily penalised.
“There has been no outcome from our police report but we heard that it is causing a stir,” he said.
Ideally, DAP would like to set up the next replica of the Keningau Oath Stone somewhere in Penampang.
The present Huguan Siou was also taken to task for the alternation that has been done on the original Keningau Oath Stone.
“The Oath Stone is very important to the natives. How can the word ‘guarantee’ be removed?”
Jimmy added that if DAP were to form the government it would construct a humongous Oath Stone which would become an icon of Sabah in Malaysia.