The Donggongon roundabout sigah controversy: which way should it be facing?
May 18th, 2008UPDATE 29th May 2008: A little bird informed that the sigah cost RM400,000.
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This is generating some controversy.
In Daily Express’ forum on the 18th May 2008, Sylvester Disimon, Chairman of the Penampang Branch of Kadazan Society Sabah (KSS) wrote in essence:
Since the Sigah is such an important traditional headgear, with which the Kadazandusun community is identified, not just in Penampang but throughout Sabah, the Sigah monument should not have been located at the roundabout in the first place.
However, he wrote that since construction has started, go ahead, but there’s some issue with the direction it’s facing. It should serve its purpose i.e. welcome visitors driving towards the direction of Donggongon from the Penampang bypass.
As of now, it is facing the opposite direction.
This is what one would see when approaching the roundabout while driving towards the direction of Donggongon on the Penampang bypass:

For those who are not familiar with the area, here’s an image from Google Earth which shows the position of the roundabout relative to surrounding areas:

He further wrote that the Penampang District Council, who is also Penampang District Officer, said that the Council decided that the Sigah should face the rising sun i.e. the East. At the same time, it is also appropriately facing Mount Kinabalu.
Disimon wrote that both reasons are unacceptable, because the former is talking about Feng Shui, and due to most Penampangites being Christians, this should not be taken into consideration. As for the latter, it’s like leading people to their “final resting place on the mountain”.
Disimon wrote that he had contacted Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, the Member of Parliament for Penampang on the matter, who basically said he didn’t have “strong views on the matter” and that “either way is ok.”
What do you think? Which way should it be facing?

