Lawrence Sinsua, chairman of the registered trustees of the Kadazan Welfare Foundation said that although the term “Momogun” is meant to be inclusive, it was not officially recognised in the constitution, the Borneo Post reported.

Indigenous communities and members of other ethnic groups are currently categorised as “lain-lain” (others) in official forms but activists have campaigned recently for Sabah natives to be described as “Momogun”.

Lawrence said: “Replacing the term ‘lain-lain’ with ‘Momogun’ in official records may lead to legal ambiguities and diminish the recognition and protection of the native status of the people of Sabah.”

He said it is crucial that any change in terminology does not inadvertently strip away the rights and privileges enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

Lawrence said Article 153 safeguards the special position of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak by providing for the reservation of quotas in public service, scholarships, and business permits or licences.

He said it is critical that the terms used to identify the indigenous natives of Sabah in official documents should be “accurate, meaningful, and reflective of their cultural and historical significance”.

He also said that the term “Kadazan Dusun” has long been recognised both locally and globally as a comprehensive identifier for the indigenous natives of Sabah.

“Momogun” on the other hand is neither widely recognised nor appropriate to represent the indigenous natives of Sabah,” Lawrence said.

“Using ‘Momogun’ instead of ‘Kadazan’ or ‘Dusun’ may cause confusion and undermine the established identity of our community, leading to potential misrepresentation in important government processes.”