Dusun radio deejay gets his way on Suria FM

Atuukoi! That means “wow!” in the Kadazandusun language as Othoe, the Sabahan deejay, greets his audience every morning from Monday to Friday on Suria FM*. And atuukoi indeed. Othoe is the village nickname of bachelor Andrew Impongan, 35. He is one of the few Sabahans who have made it big on the radio talk show circuit.

Othoe has been a hit with his native audiences for two years now with his 4-hour “Suria Pagi Kinabalu” talk show from 6-10 a.m. That is because he uses the Sabah lingo and spins Kadazandusun and Malay songs that are unique to Sabah. His listeners are thrilled to hear Sabah Malay words like “bubut” (chase), “tapuk” (hide), “limpas” (pass), “karabau” (buffalo) and “dudu” (stupid).

“I gave Suria FM three conditions before accepting the job with them,” he tells Insight Sabah. “The first is that 90% of the songs much be from native singers in Sabah. I must speak the Sabah lingo and not standard Malay and I must introduce myself as Othoe, my village nickname.”

Othoe says his nickname is a mispronunciation of his Christian name “Andrew” by his fellow Dusun Lotuds in Kampung Tagas, Tuaran, about 30 km from Kota Kinabalu.

“They couldn’t pronounce Andrew,” he says. “Overtime it has become Othoe. And this is who I am to them.”

Some of the songs he spins in between talks are a Sabah Malay song Sayang Kinabalu (Love Kinabalu), and Kadazandusun songs such as Jambatan Tamparuli (Tamparuli bridge), Langgar Pantat Karabau (Whack the buffalo’s butt), Ika No Songulun (You are the one) and Tanak Kampung (Village boy).

Like any other talk show, Othoe discusses almost anything that affects the Kadazandusuns and Muruts.

“This is a community programme,” he says. ‘I can talk about anything to do with Sabah’s culture, festivals, songs and social problems. My listeners can text me or send me an email at othoe@suriafm.com.my during the programme to ask questions and voice their concern over any matter.”

Othoe says Jahid Jahim, assistant minister of youth and sports, has appeared on his show to discuss problems that Sabah youth face.

His listeners come from as far as America, Britain, Australia, Uganda, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.

“Some of them are students who want to keep in touch with what’s happening in Sabah,” he says. “There are foreigners who want to learn our languages.”

Othoe takes weekend breaks and flies home to Kota Kinabalu from his studio in Kuala Lumpur.

He attributes his career to providence because he has little schooling, having dropped out of form 5 in 1993.

“I’ve always wanted to be a master of ceremony and a disc jockey,” Othoe says. “I got some experience emceeing youth activities in the Roman Catholic church.”

Later he learnt from Sabahan singer and actor Abu Bakar Ellah on how to interact with his audience and how to talk at random about any topic that becomes opportune. – Insight Sabah

– Reported by Jenney Juanis

*Suria Fm is a private radio station operated by Rimakmur Sendirian Berhad, a subsidiary of Star Publications (M) Berhad