Friday 20 February 2009

Sabah Orang Kaya Kaya

The title Orang Kaya Kaya or OKK was given by the Colonial Government to a person in-charge of the native customs and assisted the District Officer in discharging his duties pertaining to the adat of the natives in every district in sabah.
Such title in Sarawak is called Temenggong, which means 'Native Chief'.
The appointed OKK in Sabah was to try and sentence those who offended or broke the native laws by means of fines which were paid to the complainant in any suit.
Calling a person who receives a mere RM1,500.00 per month, wearing a set of uniform required by the government, driving a Proton Saga is not appropriate, whcih does not project an image of an orang Kaya Kaya (a very rich man). There are also people who says OKK may also mean Orang Kaya Kampung, an inferior and derogatory in nature.
In the contrary, the rich or wealthy businessman, contractors of our YBs whose pockets are loaded with money, driving Ninja Turtles and other expensive vehicles are not even called OKK.
In this modern world OKK is no longer relevant and appropriate for a district chief whose main duty is to ensure the native adats are implemented.
Since Sabah and Sarawak joined with the Malay states to form Malaysia in 1963, the title was given to supporters of the government of the day, especially when UMNO-BN took over the government in Sabah.
Since then the so-called OKKs appointed were those with no natural knowldge of the native adats, and as a result they become corrupted and unfair in their dealings and rulings in the native courts.
Some use the title in their birth certificate and even in their identity cards. For example, OKK Gobuk Bin OKK Panglima Suram.
Unlike the Kings or Sultans, the title is supposed to be used by the person to whom it was given or conferred to, not to be adopted by the siblings.
So it is high time for the authority or the Native Affair Council or whatever body, to seriously consider to drop this funny title from the Native Chiefs, for it is shamefull for them to carry such title without having much money as the people may think. Why not simply call them Ketua Adat, Ketua Adat Daerah or Temenggong like Sarawak instead of Orang Kaya Kaya?


My Say:

This posting is emailed to me by a friend of mine since college days in the 1970s.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

...""Since Sabah and Sarawak joined with the Malay states to form Malaysia in 1963, the title was given to supporters of the government of the day, especially when UMNO-BN took over the government in Sabah.""

OBB.......Orang Bodoh-Bodoh!

His Majesty,
King Cup,
Gobukland,
Kingdom of Poot Sardin.

Anonymous said...

hello bro. informative blog you have. TQ

Anonymous said...

Ya, butul. Sia setuju! Takkan kalau zaman British jadi Sarjan anak dia Sarjan Hassan bin Sarjan Hussin!

Anonymous said...

Hehehe. Might as well we call them Ketua Adat, Ketua Adat Daerah or Temenggong just like in Sarawak. It is much more respectable. :p