"Manis Muka" reveals the secret behind her name

Affectionately known among the Sabah people as Manis Muka, which literally translated as “sweet face”, the 65-year-old mother of 10 said she was proud of her unique name that had also made her known among the top leaders of her previous party, UMNO.

The Semporna Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) Wanita head said, a typo error during the registration of her birth had changed her name to Manis Buka, instead of Manis Muka.

It was this name that had brought this reporter to get to know the assemblywoman more closely to find out the story behind the unique, one in a million appellation.

“Actually the name originated from my ancestors. Manis Muka was the name of the most beautiful woman living on the island (an island in Semporna). That was why my late parents named me Manis Muka,” she told Bernama.

However, life has not always been a bed of roses for her especially when she entered primary school.

Manis Muka said she unwittingly became the centre of attention and visitors to her school often wanted to see her because of her distinctive name.

“I cried and asked my late father to change my name but he refused saying I was named after my ancestor,” she said.

Manis Muka, who is contesting to defend her Bugaya state seat in the 16th Sabah state election on Sept 26, is being challenged by six other candidates from Perikatan Nasional, USNO, Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) and two independent candidates.

The incumbent assemblywoman said this was the constituency’s first seven-cornered fight, but she was confident of her capability to defend the seat with a larger majority this time.

The former Semporna Wanita UMNO chief has been active in politics since 1985.