Kadazan History - Part 1

Brief Overview

Years ago, I read a book written by the Late Dr. Gimfil James. He was a Tatana from Kuala Penyu and had a clinic in Donggongon, Penampang.

His book is entitled "The Kadazans at the crossroads." (1983). The book narrated his childhood, about the Tatana tribe and other related matters. He went on to mention about the plight of the Kadazans - or Dusuns, if you prefer - lamenting about their disunity. About a decade later, in 1994, James Chin wrote that the 1994 Sabah Election marked the end of Kadazan unity.

Other writers had written about the Kadazan people. These are not Kadazans but, I believe, they were concerned about these indigenous people or they were interested to know more about these people and wanted to share what they knew. Through these writings, members of the Kadazan community would know how other people see them. One or two may prefer that knowledgeable Kadazans write books or articles about their race. For example, I heard an educated retired Kadazan from Penampang object to the fact that P. S. Shim, a Chinese, wrote a book in 2007 about these indigenous people. However, there seems to be no interest among educated Kadazans themselves in writing about their own people.

To date, the Kadazans - or Kadazandusun since 1995 -  are more splintered than before. The "shortage" of younger leaders is adding its own set of problems. Older more-seasoned Kadazan leaders appear to be reluctant to let go of their positions. There could be many reasons why. This people's future may be in jeopardy if nothing concrete is done. And fast!

Knowing part of their past may jog their imagination and, hopefully, they will be mire ready and willing to forge stronger unity among themselves to face the more serious challenges of the future. The state of  things is going to be more difficult. If nothing is done now, it may be too late.

circa 100,000 years ago

The theory is that people from mainland Asia migrated to the Sundaland region. If so, it is probable that the ancestors of the Kadazan people were among these migrating peoples. And so, they settled in that part of Sundaland which later became the Island of Borneo as the sea level rose. This was before the last ice age ended about 12,000 years ago (https://www.livescience.com/40311-pleistocene-epoch.html).

The last ice age period is between c. 110,000 - c. 11,700 years ago.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_glacial_period

Note: The theory that the ancestors of the Kadazan people came from mainland Asia is disproved by evidence that gave rise to the "Out of Borneo migrations".


37,000 - 65,000 years ago

In 1958, a 37,000 year-old human skull - homo sapien - was found in the Niah Caves, Baram, Sarawak,  by Tom and Barbara Harrisson.

The ancestors of the Kadazan people could have settled around the region which is now Baram in Sarawak.

Further investigations were conducted. It was found that the skull is related to the people who inhabited Borneo some 40,000 years ago.

Dr. Darrell Curnoe wrote:

"... it seems clear that Deep Skull most closely resembles the indigenous people of Borneo today with their delicate features and small body size." (emphasis mine). Reference: https://theconversation.com/ancient-deep-skull-still-holds-big-surprises-60-years-after-it-was-unearthed-61572

Whatever may new excavations reveal, "Deep Skull" led to the new theory of "Out of Borneo" migrations which will not be easy or impossible to refute.

New Evidence Unearthed

New excavations in Niah Caves and DNA aging test on "Deep Skull" revealed the following:

i) Around 65,000-100,000 years ago,  there were people who lived in and around Niah Caves.

ii) DNA aging test revealed that the person to whom the "Deep Skull " belonged was an ancestor of the Kadazandusun peoples. Deep Skull is almost 35,000 years old.

Later on, many of them settled along the Sarawak coastline.

1200 A.D. (or earlier or later)

There were waves of migrations from Baram due to disturbances there, caused by Brunei. Among them were the forefathers of the people who settled at the Kimanis-Papar plains. (P.S.Shim, 2007). They called themselves "Kadazan." (Owen Ruttter, 1929). "Kadazan" means "people". (Dousia Moujing).

Dr. Ginsari (2022) stated that this migration was in 1212.

Another group went further north and settled at Tuaran. They became the Lotud people. (Shim, 2007).

The largest group crossed the mountain ranges and settled at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu. (Shim, 2007). These are part of the Crocker Range. The place where they settled is now called Tampios (Tampias) situated at the confluence of two rivers, the Kawananan and the Kogibangan.

Years after arriving at Nunuk Ragang, some among the large group that went to Tampios left and migrated east, reaching Kinabatangan and Labuk. The Kadazandusuns were the first to settle at these places. The name 'Kinabatangan' is Kadazandusun in origin, not Chinese. This is clear from the article by Wikipedia mentioned above.

Mt. Kinabalu is actually Mount Akinabalu

There are a number of stories that attempt to connect the name of Mount Kinabalu to a Chinese prince who married a local girl presumably living at Tampios. However, there is no existing legend among the 'Dusun' people about this nor a story about a pearl or gemstone guarded by a dragon at the top of the mountain. The story about two Chinese brothers one of whom managed to steal the gemstone from the dragon was acknowledged as a legend. ~ Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huang_Senping

These stories are good for attracting tourists. Other places of interest in other parts of the world have their own legends which tourists love.

Chinese adventurers could have weaved the story to stake a claim upon the land. What better site but the highest mountain to do it? This could be just like the western powers who, in the past, planted their national flags to stake claims on lands where they had landed.


circa 1400 A.D.

More groups migrated from Tampios, settling at the Tambunan plains with some settling in Keningau. Some went north to the Kudat peninsula. These are the Rungus. (The writer was told by a villager at Tinangol) that the Rungus people claimed to be descended from Rungsud, one of the sons of Aki Maragang of Tampios.

Another group left Tampios and went southeast reaching Lahad Datu; their descendants are the Idahan people. They live at and own the bird-nesting area of Lahad Datu. The writer was one of the interviewers at a job interview more than ten years ago. Some of the job applicants were Idahans. When asked, they said they were Dusuns although they are Muslims.

Some of them went westwards reaching as far as present-day Togudon. From there some from this group migrated to Tudan in inner Tuaran, to Terian and Buayan and other places.

Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunuk_Ragang) puts the orginal settlement at Tampios as having started in 1406 AD, 33 years after Ong Sum Ping went to Kinabatangan.

Dr. Ginsari stated that the first migration out of Nunuk Ragang was in 1743, more than 300 years later. Whatever the year the migrations begun, there is no way to prove it one way or another. But these writings place Nunuk Ragang and its numerous inhabitants at a specific time in history.

Now, the question arises to "Why are there often attempts to mention the Chinese?" Are there some unseen hands trying to disenherit the Kadazans as being the first inhabitants of Borneo?

Whether or not Ong Sum Ping visited Tampios requires collaborating evidence. However, his story has nothing to do with Kadazan ancestral history. Some even tried to suggest that Ong Sum Ping stole the Kinabalu gemstone. Very creative but there is no grain of truth of this.

15th Century

Brunei ruled Borneo. However, it has been said that Brunei's control over the "Dusuns" was nominal since these people did not recognise any authority other than their own chieftains (and priestesses?). This was particularly true of the interior of North Borneo where Brunei officials did not dare to venture. Many of them would have lost their heads if they did.

circa 1690: Brunei decline

By the end of the 17th century, Brunei began to decline. It was in no position to continue their control over North Borneo. This must be the period when the Kadazans of Penampang rebelled against Brunei.

The fight between Brunei soldiers and Kadazan Tangaah at Kulintangan hills near Donggongon, Penampang most probably have occurred during this period. The Bruneis suffered serious defeat.

There was also the story of the fight between villagers of Maang and Brunei. It was said that a giant cannon appeared on top of the mountain ridge dividing Maang and Tombovo after a night's incantations by two bobohizans. This was used to destroy Brunei ships at Moluntum (Meruntum). (Margaret Mogunjil,c.1970). Whether this is true or not, it indicates the weakening power of Brunei.

Tribal Migrations from Nunuk Ragang 

Dr. Ginsari (2022) stated in "Sejarah dan Mitos Migrasi Dusun di Sabah" that almost every tribe of Kadazandusun migrated out of Nunuk Ragang beginning 1743 when the Rungus tribe left followed by the Tangara in 1763. The Tagahas were the last tribe to leave, as stated by Dr. Ginsari.

circa 1700(?) - The Coming of the British

Kadazandusun tribal wars were still on-going when the British came in 1881. It only ended in 1910. These were the main "headhunting" periods which later became part of the religious rituals of the Tangaah-Kadazan of Penampang and the other "Kadazandusun" tribes around Borneo. "Houses of skulls" sprang up during this time. This was the time of Monsopiad, Uguk, Gantang and Manggung (and most probably Mogudam and Lambangan Dulahat).

It could also be during this period that the "Huguan Siou" title, a hereditary title, came into being. It is said that whoever inherited the title would also inherit herculean strength. The title was conferred during a ritual conducted by priests and priestesses (sharmans).

It is said that the huge stones marking the boundaries of family lands in Penampang were put there by the "Huguan Siou." (Miji,c.1970). But there must be other Tangaah-Kadazan "hercules" because there were other huge stones found around the Penampang-Putatan plains. For example, there were no less than five of these huge stones found at Tombovo village, Putatan. One of these was twelve feet high or more and must weigh several tons. This stone can still be seen at Tunggoh old cemetery, Tombovo.)

(Note: The present "Huguan Siou" title is not the same as the previous title. The present "Huguan Siou" is merely the pararamount leader of the Kadazandusun-Murut people. He is not like the physically herculean "Huguan Sious" of old.)

It has been said that tribal wars started earlier in the interior.These became more intense with the availability of more advanced weaponry when the Chinese came bringing their metal wares and tools.


circa 1795/1825 or earlier/later

Groups of Kadazan people living in the Kimanis-Papar plains migrated north, reached present-day Putatan and Penampang and settled there. They were later called "Tangaah" since they lived somewhere between the Kadazans of Papar and the Lotud of Tuaran. (Shim,2007)

Dr. Ginsari (2022) stated that the "Tangara" migrated out from Nunuk Ragang in 1763.

The Kadazans - or Tangaah - must have come earlier than 1800 to Putatan and Penampang and became fairly numerous in order to be able to fight against their blood brothers from the interior. If not, they would have been annihilated.

If the community had not grown in numbers, they would not have been able to fight and win against the soldiers of the Sultan of Brunei at Kulintangan hills near Donggongon.

When they came in 1881, the British concluded that the country was sparsely populated. "Empty," they said. This does not prove that the Putatan-Penampang plain or the interior were empty land. The British were concentrated at Api Api, later named Jesselton, (and now, Kota Kinabalu). They had not criss-crossed the country thoroughly from coast to coast and north to south.

It is also clear that when Christian missionaries came in 1885 and again in 1886, they found people who spoke the "Putatan language" living in the area. When they moved to Penampang, they found numerous people living there. There were people at Inobong, too. The people there could have intermarried with people from the interior. Thus, they learned to speak two dialects, the "Kadazan/Tangaah" and "Dusun." This is still true as of today.


1880s

The Kadazans - or Dusuns, if you like - first contact with westerners was mainly through Christian missionaries. The British officials of the North Borneo Chartered Company left the natives to their own devices. (Francis Xavier Witti may be one of the very few whites whom the natives met. He was killed by a Murut blow pipe in 1891. This was during the dying days of the natives tribal wars.)

The Christian missionaries opened schools starting about 1887. But awareness of the importance of education among the Kadazandusuns was slow.

The sons of Kadazans headmen had the chance to attend school built by the British for the sons of all local headmen. There could be one or two Kadazan kids who benefited but there is no way of verifying.


1890s

Wet rice farming began in earnest with the help of Chinese brought to North Borneo from China by the British, it is claimed. This did not indicate that both hill and wet rice farming was not carried out before this. Forrester (1774) stated the the "Dusuns" planted "paddy" (rice) and fruits.

It is fairly certain that the natives planted the dry type of rice called hill rice or "totidong" long  before this. Some Penampang folks said that totidong rice was planted on the slopes of Tivung hills.

Rubber and tobacco plantations were also started by the British company with the help of the Chinese immigrants. The interior natives would get involved in planting and selling tobacco.

Many Chinese men did not return to China after their contract. Some remained in the land, started some business and married Kadazan or Dusun women. Their children are referred to as "Sino-Kadazan." These Sino-Kadazans were very fluent in the Kadazan language. A few Chinese women married Kadazan men and became very good in Kadazan that no one would suspect they were Chinese.

Chinese shopkeepers in Putatan, Donggongon and Kasigui conducted their business in Kadazan when dealing with these people. Kadazan became the mode of communication between them since both could not speak and understand the Malay language.

The Kadazans became very skilled in wet rice planting, having learned the skill of making ploughs and harrows, to break buffaloes to do the work, and to prepare nurseries for planting the rice seeds and to replant the rice seedlings into the fields. They learned how to thresh the harvested rice and to pound the grains to unhusk them for cooking. Rice became their staple food.


1950s

Kadazan associations were established with the rise of Kadazan nationalism. The Penampang Kadazan Society was formed. This later evolved into the Kadazan Cultural Association which is the Kadazandusun Cultural Association now.

However, another native association USDA (United Sabah Dusun Association) was later established with membership drawn from natives who prefer to be called "Dusun." The misunderstanding came to a head that leaders from both associations had to meet to resolve the issue which even threatened the political clout of the natives. They agreed on the terminology "Kadazandusun" which helped to prevent further escalation of the problem.

1963-1970s

Political parties were established inNorth Borneo to respond to the proposal to form the Federation of Malaysia. Among these were the United National Kadazan Organisation (UNKO) and Pasok-Momogun which later merged to form United Pasok-Momogun Kadazan Organization (UPKO).

Sabah and Sarawak agreed to be partners in the formation of the Federation based on the provisions of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Donald Stephens (later Tun Fuad Stephens) from UPKO became the first Chief Minister of Sabah. He was later conferred the title of "Huguan Siou" as being the paramount chief of the KadazanDusun and Murut people.

However, UPKO was dissolved on December 28, 1967 whereby the Kadazan-Dusun people ended in a political wilderness. With hindsight, this was a fatal mistake. With no political platform, the Kadazan people lost the avenue to voice their concerns for the well-being of their people.


1976
Berjaya led by Tun Fuad Stephens toppled the Sabah Alliance led by United Sabah National Organisation. This raised the hope of Kadazandusun people.

However, this hope was dashed when a plane crash tragedy killed three prominent Kadazandusun leaders, Tun Fuad Stephens, Datuk Peter Mojuntin and Datuk Darius Binion. Berjaya was just beginning to put the Sabah government in order when this happened. The people felt numb for about two years after the great tragedy. Those mostly affected by this tragedy were the Kadazandusun peoples.

Check out here: http://kadazan-tuhun-ku.blogspot.com/2017/02/tadau-takadop-kozo-id-susuzan-tinau.html

The Late Dr. James Ongkili became Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah with Datuk (now Tan Sri) Harris Salleh as the Chief Minister. But he was caught in the changing political climate in the country. He was not able to do much for his people. Fresh from his UM job, he had to adjust rapidly in order to fill the huge vacuum left by the Kadazan leaders who perished in the plane crash. At least, his being the only Deputy Chief Minister was able to give some sense of comfort to a "bereaved" people.

1978

There were attempts to fill the void as the result of the plane tragedy.

In 1978. the United Nunuk Ragang National Organisation (Pasok) was form with Datuk Mark Koding as its President. It aimed to unite the indigenous people of Sabah.

After PBS won the 1985 Sabah election it formed a coalition with Pasok, which was registered with the Registrar of Societies. The coalition ended when PBS was prevented from forming the Sabah government after the election in 1994 which it won by a slim margin.

1981

A number of KCA branches proposed that Dr. James Ongkili be conferred the "Huguan Siou" but refused.

Daily Express reported:

"Deputy Chief Minister Datuk James Ongkili said he was against the election of a "Huguan Siou" or Supreme Leader of the Kadazans because "the move would not benefit anyone." (December 6, 1981). This was the main cause of his loss of support among the Kadazans. With hindsight, he could have just refused the title and continued to work for the progress of his people.

1985 - 1994
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS: United Sabah Party), formed and led by Joseph Pairin Kitingan, defeated Berjaya. He became the Chief Minister of Sabah. The Kadazan-Dusuns had their hopes for a better future revived. However, many of the aspirations of the Kadazandusun people failed to be realised even during this period. His tenure as the Chief Minister was constantly harassed by those who were opposed to PBS and its struggles.

PBS lost power when Datuk Pairin Kitingan (now Tan Sri) was prevented from getting sworn in as the Chief Minister despite PBS having won the 1994 Sabah election. Even Tun Mustapha, the first Yang di Pertuan Negera Sabah, and later Chief Minister, failed in his attempt to get Pairin get sworn in. He had joined PBS by this time. He even apologised for having invited a Malay political party from Malaya. (DailyExpress,year?)

1994
Kadazandusun-based parties proliferated after the fall of the PBS government. These included Parti Demokrarik Sabah (PDS) and PBRS. Another breakaway group was SAPP formed by Yong Teck Lee after he left PBS in 1994.

The President of PDS, renamed UPKO, Datuk (now Tan Sri) Bernard Dompok had his turn in becoming the Chief Minister of Sabah under a rotation system (1994-2004), but he held the post for less than a year between 1998 and 1999. This was after the tenure of  Sakaran Dandai, Salleh Keruak and Yong Teck Lee. 

After the 2004 election, Osu Sukam became Chief Minister and then replaced by Chong Kah Kiat. After this, the rotation system was discontinued.  From then on, no Kadazan has held the Sabah Chief Minister post.

2010s

Kadazandusuns support is distributed across several political parties making many of them unsuccessful in political election outings. KadazanDusuns support is divided between Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), PDS / UPKO, PBRS and Pasok and other parties.

2017

Changes in leadership among political parties led by KDMs such as PBS and UPKO. PBS President, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan has given way to Deputy Datuk Dr. Maximus Ongkili. UPKO's Acting President is Datuk Madius Tangau while the former President and founder of UPKO, Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok was appointed as the Malaysian ambassador to the Vatican.

2018

On May 1, 2018, the Malaysian 14th General Election was held. The Warisan Party became the government of Sabah, supported by UPKO (formerly PDS) and Pakatan Harapan.

(GRS is the present government of Sabah.)

Datuk Madius Tangau of UPKO became one of the three Deputy Chief Ministers of Sabah, Datuk Saphie Apdal of Warisan being the Chief Minister. Darrell Leiking, the Deputy President of Warisan became a federal cabinet minister (MITI).

Under this scenario, Kadazandusun and Muruts are more splintered than ever. They are found in Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), United Pasok-Momogun Kadazan Organisation (UPKO), renamed United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), Star, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), and Anak Negeri, and UMNO. Kadazandusun leaders and people are also found in Parti Harapan Sabah i.e. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Warisan Sabah and others.

The only remaining organization that remains viable is the KDCA as a vehicle to unite the native indigenous peoples.. Another is the institution of the "Huguan Siou."

But even KDCA is now being challenged by Kadazan Society Sabah (KSS) and Momogun National Congress (MNC). And at one time, the "Huguan Siou" title was belittled by some Kadazandusun leaders. And some opined that the present holder of the "Huguan Siou" title is not fit to hold the title. Some went further to suggest there needs to be more than one "Huguan Siou."

This is a recipe for disaster!

There was also the KDM Malaysia episode that threatened to splinter the Kadazandusuns some more. This has subsided now although there appears to be some attempt to revive it. (It has resurfaced as a political party.)

The future of the Kadazandusun community is in their own hands and in the hands of their leaders. The question is whether what they decide upon now and the ensuing action in the coming years will unite them or divide them some more. The latter is certainly not to their advantage and advancement.

(Note: This blog may be amended as and when new information become available.)

Last updated on 29 October 2023

to be continued...

Pascalis Claudius Lotinggi Dampian

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