Huguan Siou - Kadazan Dusun Paramount Leader

I am compelled to write about Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin bin Kitingan. As He is the current Huguan Siou for the Kadazan Dusun. Huguan Siou is the title honored to the most prominent Kadazan Dusun leader in Sabah. This title is very close to the heart of each and every Sabahan.

We look up to Huguan Siou to guide us, to lead us into better future, plant a sense of belonging on this land, give us protection from adversaries, spread foods on our table, cuddle us in our sleep. Hmm.. that may sound overly mushy2, but yes i stand adamant that as homosapiens, we always need some sort of epitome to take us and show the way, it's basic human nature. Just as the need to find a leader is important, finding a good one is even more paramount.

If we cannot find it within ourself, then we seek our uncle, father, mother, makcik, balachi, taiko, macha, etc. It gets more complicated when you have more than one figures to look up to. Hence you will start to categorize these people to household, dictrict, national, and international level. Or from a different viewpoint, a politician, performer, and perhaps even criminals as role model! Shocking isn't it?


Just look at American Idol, Akademi Fantasia, Miss World, Manchester United, etc. Why do you think your friends cried when Germany lost to Spain or even when Chelsea lost to Manchester United. When not even a drop of their blood colored Germans or Caucasians. Why? I am puzzled as well. I think it's just our inherent attribute as human to have a sense of belonging to a particular person or group of persons, as in a team.

When our friend support a soccer team, you want to join them and be a part of the group. You long for recognition so that when your friends talk about a team, they will refer that you belong to this team or that society.


Why? Why? Why? Germany Lost! Woaarrgghhhh....

I have some friends who don't even know anything about Manchester United, but he bought the team's jersey and sang the same chorus as his fellow supporters. At the end of the day, i think the emotion shown by most people are fake, skin deep and meaningless. You follow the majority, how they react to a situation and amplify that emotion on yourself to gain more recognition.




Now back to the Huguan Siou. Our first Huguan Siou was the venerable Tun Fuad Stephens, which is of course the founding father of Sabah. The figure responsible in bringing Sabah into the federation of Malaysia. Then came Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin bin Kitingan and currently he still is the incumbent.

The title Huguan Siou is an institutionalized paramount leader of the Koisaan. The power and responsibility to bestow the Kadazandusun Paramount Leadership Title termed as Huguan Siou rests with the KDCA (Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association), which, upon the vacation of the Huguan Siou's Office, may hold an Extra-ordinary Delegate's Conference to specifically resolve the installation of their Huguan Siou.

The title is given conspicuously to a person who contributed a great deal, willing to sacrifice and keep his people united without hidden motives. Award of multi-million dolar projects to family member included in the list of sins (in Huguan Siou perspective). In short, Huguan Siou must have all the virtues that Kinoringan has. Nowadays, finding these virtues in our people is very difficult, if not impossible.


I always believe that as human, however revered, you are still not GOD. Pope is not GOD, Ahmadinejad is not GOD, Kim Jung Ill is definitely not GOD but a tyrant who oppressed his people. Based on the above statements, you can conclude that All Human are not GOD, Huguan Siou is a human, therefore Huguan Siou is not GOD. Understand?

The previous statement holds true to all humans in position of power (king, prime minister, etc).

If one is not performing all the virtues as expected, thus he can be dethroned from the position. It's as simple as that. Take him down, strip him from the title he has been enjoying for so long at the Rakyat expenses. Because if no leader is considered worthy of the Huguan Siou's title, then so be it, leave the title vacant.

Until one day, when one redeemer rises amongst us and be worthy of the position. Because right now, I personally think Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan has forgotten about his Huguan Siou role, instead he is eclipsed by the struggle for power. But i know there are staunch PBS supporters out there who will strongly disagree with me. I may be wrong, you be the judge.

I think he fought and still is fighting for more federal government representatives from Sabah, which is partially a good thing. Yes we have minister in the prime minister department, minister of science, bla bla bla. Did they do any good to Sabahans in general? Apart from recognition as Sabahan in cabinet, what else can they boast about? Did they help increase our income per capita in Sabah? Did they help stop the influx of illegal immigrant into Sabah? NO.


It has become even dirtier when billions were recently poured by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, which of course many see it as a fire extinguisher to doused off Sabahans anger towards federal government.

However, as a man on the street, we feel that no amount of money or luxuries can be compared to state autonomy, freedom in religion, administration, and immigration. Plus of course the liberty in sharing the treasures of our land (oil).

With the present ruling coalition, the dream for these freedoms, will remain as they are 100 years from now. No hope in changing the constitution, there will be no hope to alleviate the people's suffering.

On the same note, I support Datuk Yong Teck Lee idea for the formation of an independent political bloc in Sabah and Sarawak.

Much that the people want this to happen, we have not heard of Datuk Seri Pairin supporting the move. Instead what he did has invoked much wrath in the air. He had reiterated his strong support to the administration of the ruling coalition. Indeed his moves had inadvertently switched the focus to the relevance of his position as Huguan Siou, because clearly judging by the mood in the air, Pairin had acted singularly in striking contrasts with what the people wanted.

There have been much talk about current position of Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. Is he up for the tasks? In which the answer is NO for majority of educated Sabahans, and also among the netizen. You can view a thread on Sabahforum.com that discusses everything about politics in Malaysia, especially in Sabah. One thread discuss about Adakah Datuk Pairin masih layak dengan gelaran HUGUAN SIOU? .

It's good to see that more young Sabahans are becoming politically savvy. Knowing their rights and often discuss about violations of the "Twenty Points" Agreements.

Dicussions often touched on sensitive issues that have long been neglected by the government, state and federal alike. Often critically commented and sometime outright curses were hurled at particular leader. And guess what? The frequently discussed topic is about the current Huguan Siou.

I am personally pleading to Datuk pairin to explain to the people what are his party PBS political stands, to be fair to him he has been quiet most of the times, except two or three times when he spoke of absolute support to the ruling coalition.


Knowing politics, there's a possibility that his stands might be different than what he uttered, you knowlah "Jaga Pantat" direct translation from english "To Save Ass" (Caution: Not Applicable to West Malaysian Language, only to Sabahans, but Metaphorically also can lah!), and they (politicians) are well known to be split-tongued.


Hopefuly the tide will turn, for our leaders to take heed at the voice of the people.