KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah Cabinet minister Datuk Conrad Mojuntin, who oversaw Sabah's golden age of sports in the early 1980s, has been given a posthumous Bulawan Sigah award.

       The award, which means “golden crown” in the Dusun language, is the second highest after the Huguan Siou that is given to an individual as a recognition and appreciation for his active participation and services in the Kadazandusun Murut Rungus (KDMR) communities.

       Huguan Siou is the highest award given to an individual for his commendable and outstanding services in the communities. The title is currently held by former chief minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

       Mojuntin’s eldest son, Petrus said the award, which was supposed to be given in 2019 but was postponed following the Covid-19 pandemic, was a recognition of his late father’s contributions to the state and the KDMR communities.

       “We are honoured to be receiving this award on behalf of my father. It is a proud moment for us, though he was never one who cared whether he was recognised for his services to the people,” Petrus said.

       Mojuntin passed away due to a stroke on Nov 17 last year. He was 73.

       Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) deputy president Datuk Seri Clarence Bongkos Malakun and several leaders visited the family on Monday (June 6) and presented the award to Mojuntin’s wife, Theresa.

       Besides Mojuntin, another Bulawan Sigah recipient is Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

       Petrus said his father had been involved in various cultural activities, highlighting KDMR issues and bringing developments in infrastructures for the natives, including playing a huge role in the establishment of the KDCA.

       As youth and sports minister in the Berjaya government between 1982-85, Mojuntin was credited for pushing Sabah's sports development to new heights that saw the state become a powerhouse in national and international sports.

       He was credited for engaging US Sports Academy coaches while elevating bodybuilding to a level that not only saw Justin Sompong become Asia's Bodybuilding Champion in 1985 but Sabah becoming host to the prestigious Mr Olympia.

       Mojuntin gave all sports associations a fair share of opportunities to excel and never mince his words each time they did not produce.

       Some recalled that when Sabah FA was gripped by a legal crisis, Mojuntin persuaded the governor Tun Mohd Adnan Robert to take over the helm and kick-started Sabah's rise in national football.

       Mojuntin, who remained on the sidelines of politics after the Berjaya government fell in 1985, attempted to make a comeback in the 2004 general elections where he contested the Moyog state seat and Penampang parliamentary seat under the DAP banner but lost both.

       He later spent most of his time in religious activities but was in the public spotlight again when he was implicated in a shooting incident involving the death of a 26-year-old in October 2006.

       However, the Coroner's Court ruled that the shooting was in self-defence at that time.