Beginner’s Kadazandusun Dictionary: Summarized with Questions.

(Note: Protect and Preserve your 'Kadazan' and 'Dusun' identities. Read the articles published HEREand HERE and participate in the survey Poll located at the top right-hand column of this page.)

A) Introduction.

1) The just concluded discussion in e-forum format on the Beginner’s Kadazan Dictionary after it was opened for discussion since 29^th January, 2010 published in this blog has drawn more than 60 comments with mixed reactions. All of them have been received and posted. None was rejected.

2) To all intents and purposes, I posted the article with the objective of seeking the opinions of those concerned with regard to the Beginner’s Kadazandusun Dictionary in which, in page 14 where ‘Bangsa’ or races have been classified, the ‘Kadazan’ and ‘Dusun’ indigenous races have been omitted and, in their places, ‘Kadazadusun’ is printed instead.

3) But invariably the comments developed into e-debate or e-forum format during the course of commentaries and discussions. This augers well to discuss the term ‘Kadazandusun’ as well to deliberate the intended meaning of the said term, be it to unify the two ethnic groups of Kadazan and Dusun, or otherwise.

4) As what one commentator said on February 9, 2010 1:46 PM ) the generic name of ‘Kadazandusun’ was first introduced at the 5th KCA Delegate Conference in 1989.

5) Another Commentator said “KCA leaders had on 05/11/1989 introduced the term "Kadazandusun" at the annual congress of delegates. It has since come to be known as KDCA.” – Anonymous: February 2, 2010 10:51 PM

6) Hence, there are two subject matters to be addressed and deliberated here:

a) To include the Kadazan and Dusun ethnic races to replace the term ‘Kadazandusun’ in the Beginners Kadazandusun Dictionary;

b) To accept the term either ‘Kadazandusun’ or ‘KadazanDusun’ (capital K and D) as an ethnic race for the Kadazan and Dusun peoples to combine or merge the two under the new acceptable term.

B) Summary.

1) There is a clear indication from the comments posted by participants in the just concluded e-forum and that there is a definite urgent need to rectify the anomaly as highlighted in the blog.

2) In the course of the debate, the term ‘Kadazandusun’ was invariably brought up and expounded as to its intended meaning when it was first coined. Despite the fact that Tan Sri Herman Luping has already clarified in his book titled, “THE KADAZANDUSUNS” that the said term is only used as a tag line to refer the Kadazan and Dusun peoples as a group, but yet there are still some people who choose to believe and support the said term as an indigenous race.

3) Some of the commentators who participated in the e-forum have clearly indicated that there is nothing more despicable than to be an accomplice to the initiators and/or propagators of the said term. Those commentators who firmly believe and uphold their ethnic races as Kadazan and Dusun, take exemptions from this group.

4) The e-forum has attracted more than 60 commentators and who advocate ‘for or against’ the term ‘Kadazandusun’ by giving their ‘No Holds Barred’ or ‘without fear or favour’ comments. Perhaps they are emboldened to make their comments in such a manner under the protection of anonymity. Some, however, have identified themselves by signing off their names genuinely, or at least stamped their initials at the end of their comments.

5) I am not alluding here that those comments posted by ‘Anonymous’ are considered not genuine – far from it. In fact I appreciate all the participants for their sincere and invaluable comments, be they anonymous or known people. Those who prefered to remain anonymous might have reasons to protect their anonymity, but surely they have no intention whatoever to slander or run down anyone, much less with malice or enmity towards one another.

6) As a moderator, I can only make a concluding remark that they have every legitimate intention to express their opinionated statements to help solve our long overdue ‘identity crisis’ since the introduction of the term ‘Kadazandusun’.

7) More so when it is classified as an ethnic race in the ‘Beginner’s Kadazandusun Dictionary’ while the ‘Kadazan’ and ‘Dusun’ ethnic races have been completely omitted from the list of ‘Bangsa, Race or Tinaru’.

C) Commentaries

1) For the purpose of easier moderation and for the readers to read, I have divided the commentaries (truncated) into two groups. Group (A) – Pro-Kadazandusun and Group (B) – Against-Kadazandusun.

2) I have reproduced comments received from the proponents, propagators, initiators, etc, of the term ‘Kadazandusun’ which I consider pertinent and important. They need to be addressed and commented sensibly so that we can all come up to a compromised opinion(s) with regard to this contentious term.

3) As I said earlier, I have also selected those pertinent and genuine comments from those who are against the term ‘Kadazandusun’. Those comments that have not been selected are equally pertinent and important.

D) Conclusion

1) The participants from both Kadazan and Dusun indigenous group have expressed their disapproval of the word ‘Kadazandusun’ as a term to replace the two ethnic races of ‘Kadazan’ and ‘Dusun’. Their overwhelming responses to retain and preserve their respective identities speak volumes which should be respected by all concerned.

2) In addition to retaining their respective identities, they have also stated that the term ‘Kadazandusun’ should be declassified in the Beginner’s Kadazandusun Dictionary and to be replaced with ‘Kadazan’ and ‘Dusun’ as among the indigenous ethnic races in page 14.

3) Proponents of ‘Kadazandusun’ or ‘KadazanDusun’ have equally defended these two terminologies in an effort to unifying the two ethnic peoples of ‘Kadazan’ and ‘Dusun’.

4) Based on the opinions and arguments generated from the two groups, one can now form their opinions and recommendations.

5) All Kadazan and Dusun communities, especially those who have participated in the e-forum are, once again, invited to make their final recommendation(s) whether:

a) To include the Kadazan and Dusun ethnic races to replace the term ‘Kadazandusun’ in the Beginners Kadazandusun Dictionary; OR

b) To accept the term either ‘Kadazandusun’ or ‘KadazanDusun’ (capital K and D) as ethnic race for the Kadazan and Dusun peoples to combine or merge the two under the new acceptable term;

c) Any other recommendation.

6) It is most appreciated if you can please submit your recommendations by signing your name at the bottom together with, but necessarily, your e-mail address.

7) For those who wish to remain anonymous they may submit their recommendations to my email address at sjdisimon@gmail.com. Their identities and email addresses will be treated with the strictest confidence, unless with their expressed consent.

8) I reserve the right to publish those comments and/or recommendations with slanderous, malicious, frivolous, defamatory, and/or libelous remarks.

CLICK HERE TO READ THOSE TRUNCATED AND MODERATED COMMENTS FROM GROUP ‘A’ AND ‘B’.