Reservations to the formation of Malaysia The proposal to form a larger federation of Malaysia comprising the recently independent nation of the
Federation of Malaya, the British protectorate of
Brunei, and the crown colonies of
North Borneo,
Sarawak and
Singapore had met with some initial opposition from influential community leaders in the respective territories. The North Borneo Legislative Council finally agreed to accede to the
Malaysia Agreement on 12 September 1962 after presenting the
20-point agreement written by
Donald Stephens during the negotiations to form Malaysia. Despite this development, considerable apprehension and reservations still existed among the traditional native chiefs of
Sabah known as the
Orang Kaya-Kaya regarding the rights of the state within the new federation.
Guarantees set in stone One of the original stone retriever also request for correction on the stone origin as the stone is retrieved from the Senagang River, not Pegalan River as stated in current source. However, according to Zainnal Ajamain, a Sabah historian, G.S. Sundang did not endorse on the "minimum safeguards" for Sabah before entering the federation, while advocating complete "state rights" like other states in Malaysia such as Penang and Malacca. Sundang carved stone out of frustration. There are many stones taken and collected from surrounding areas of Keningau such as Bandukan, Bayayo, Dangulad, Senagang, Tuarid, and Ulu Liawan but they are not suitable and are easily broken. The District Officer of Keningau,
Richard Lind (later to become the State Secretary of Sabah), was charged to oversee the erection of the oath stone. A suitable boulder was taken from the Pegalan River near Kampung Dangulad (a small village in
Keningau) and carved by Garukon Gurun, former Sergeant Major of the legendary North Borneo Constabulary. A plaque was commissioned and made by the
Thornycroft Shipyard in Singapore to be affixed to the stone.
Oath stone relocation and plaque restoration During Malaysia Day celebration on 16 September 2014, the inscription of the stone was found to have been tampered with. The words "Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin" (The Government of Malaysia guarantees) were removed from below the title "Batu Sumpah Peringatan Mengikut Parlambaga'an" (Memorial Oath Stone according to the Constitution). On 6 July 2015, the original plaque of the inscription was reportedly found by a resident in Kampung Apin-Apin. The plaque was later handed over to Sabah state assemblyman
Jeffrey Kitingan. Meanwhile, Jeffrey has decided to hand over the plaque to Sabah chief minister
Musa Aman in the next
Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting. However, Sabah Museum Director, Joanna Kitingan, who is Jeffrey's sister, expressed doubt about the originality of the newly discovered plaque. On 30 January 2015, it was proposed that the oath stone would be relocated to the compound of Keningau Land and Survey Department with the missing words reinstated. In February 2016, the oath stone was proposed to be moved to
Keningau Heritage Museum and will be gazetted as National Heritage Site. The continuous delaying for relocation as well with the high cost reason for restoration from the federal government have been criticised by Sabahan politicians and perceived by them as the federal government not having an intention to keep its promise. However, despite the persistent delays, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department,
Joseph Kurup, pledged that the stone would be restored and relocated with the missing words of 'Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin'. Around
RM1.025 million have been allocated by the federal government for the relocation to a site near the Keningau Heritage Museum. Malaysian Tourism and Culture Minister
Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the relocation would enable more people and tourists to come and appreciate the history behind the Oath Stone and it would be gazetted under the State Cultural Heritage Enactment (Preservation 1997) after the relocation. In September 2018, the oath stone was relocated to Keningau Heritage museum with the three missing words restored. == Plaque inscription ==