KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 — The federal government will relocate the Keningau Oath Stone from its current location to the compound of the district land and survey office, after the monument was found to have been tampered with.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said the words “Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin”, which translates to “The Government of Malaysia Guarantees”, were found to be missing from the bill of guarantees etched on the stone erected in 1964, marking the terms to Sabah’s agreement as a partner in the formation of Malaysia.

“The Oath Stone will be placed in front of the Land and Survey Department in the Keningau district while the three crucial missing words ‘Kerajaan Malaysia Jamin’ will be reinstated as soon as possible,” he said was quoted by The Star Online as telling a news conference in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Kurup stressed that it is important to restore the original wording on the Stone, since it dates back to the time Sabah agreed to join Sarawak, Malaya and Singapore to form the federation of Malaysia.

He assured that the federal government had never intended to “erase” the words from the plaque, saying that it likely was removed due to negligence.

The Oath Stone was erected on August 31, 1964, one year after the formation of Malaysia.

The purpose of the stone was to serve as a reminder of Sabahans’ rights to religious freedom, land, culture and customs.

It is not known when the words were removed, though it is believed that it could have happened when the Oath Stone was moved to make way for a road project in 1978, The Star Online claimed.