Module 2 Part 3 Culture of Malaysia

4.

I. Bidayuh;- Bidayuh tribe group are sometime known as “Land Dayaks”generally concentrated in Sarawak. Majority of them settled in Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Lundu and Bau district. They are mostly farmers and hunters. They lived in mountainous region of Sarawak. In the past their ancestor use to be head hunters, in which currently not in practice. In the Bidayuh community, they also speak various dialects depending on the location they stayed. Bukar-sadong dialect is spoken by Bidayuh of Serian district, Biatah/Penyua/Bipuruh dialect is spoken by those in Kuching district, Bau-jagoi dialect by those in Bau and Salako-lara dialect by those in Lundu district. But commonly the Bidayuh were able to converse in English, due to the past during the Brookes reign, English language was introduced. Majority of the Bidayuh today are of Christian faith, commonly Roman Catholics, Anglican and Seventh Day Adventist. Formerly they are animists. The traditionally Bidayuh community celebrated the harvest festival of Gawai. They are famous of their hospitality and their famous beverage is “tuak” or rice wine.

II. Dayaks;- The largest of Sarawak's ethnic groups, the Ibans form 30% of the state's population. Sometimes erroneously referred to as the Sea Dayaks because of their skill with boats, they are actually an upriver tribe from the heart of Kalimantan. In the past, they were a fearsome warrior race renowned for headhunting and piracy. Traditionally, they worship a triumvirate of gods under the authority of Singalang Burung, the bird-god of war. Although now mostly Christians, many traditional customs are still practiced. The main ethnic groups of Dayaks are the Bakumpai and Dayak Bukit . Traditionally, Dayak agriculture was based on swidden rice cultivation such hill rice farming, ladang (garden), and hutan (forest). Dayaks organized their labour in terms of traditionally based land holding groups which determined who owned rights to land and how it was to be used. The modern day rise in large scale monocrop plantations such as palm oil and bananas. The most salient feature of Dayak social organization is the practice of longhouse domicile. This is a structure supported by hardwood posts that can be hundreds of metres long, usually located along a terraced river bank. At one side is a long communal platform, from which the individual households can be reached. The Iban of the Kapuas and Sarawak have organized their longhouse settlements in response to their migratory patterns. Longhouses have a door and apartment for every family living in the longhouse.


III. Penan;- The Penans live in Sarawak. They make up just one of its 26 ethnic group. In total there are 10,000 Penans spread over 87 villages. Arguably Borneo's most artistic people, their large longhouses are ornately decorated with murals and superb woodcarvings; their utensils are embellished with intricate beadwork; and aristocratic ladies cover their bodies with finely detailed tattoos. Penans living in longhouses, but wish to pursue their traditions, primary forests have been specially set aside for them so that they can continue to follow their nomadic lifestyles.

IV. Melanau;- The Melanau are considered among the earliest settlers in Sarawak. The name Melanau was not used by the Melanau to refer to themselves until recently. They call themselves a-likou meaning 'people of the river'. Legend has it that the name Melanau was given by one of the Sultans of Brunei to the inhabitants of the coastal swamp flats and riverbanks of central Sarawak. The Melanaus can be divided into six different groups which are: Melanau Mukah, Melanau Dalat, Melanau Oya, Melanau Matu-Daro-Rejang, Melanau Ba'ie (Bintulu),Melanau Balingian and Melanau Miri. Each group has its own characteristic dialect but they share the same cultural and lingual background (except for Melanau Bintulu dialect which can hardly be understood by the rest. Many linguists feel that it hardly fit into the Melanau language grouping). The Melanau languages have been divided in the following eleven: Mukah, Balingian, Oya, Dalat, Daro-Matu, Rajang, Kanowit, Sibu, Bintulu, Seru and Tanjong. The Melanau were traditionally fishermen as well as padi and sago farmers. Some were skilled boat builders. They used to live in tall stilted and long houses, but today they live in kampong (separated houses in a village community) style. Because of religious similarity, the majority of Melanaus live socially and culturally like the rest of the Malays in Malaysia. While originally animists, the majority of the Melanaus are now Muslim, although some of them, especially among the Melanau Mukah and Dalat, are Christian. Nonetheless, many still celebrate traditional rites such as the annual Kaul Festival. Despite their different beliefs and religions, the Melanaus, like the rest of East Malaysians (Sabah and Sarawak) are very tolerant of each other and they rightly feel proud of their tolerance. We would still come across a Melanau family with different child family members embracing Christianity and Islam while their parents still have strong animist belief.

V. Rungus;- The Rungus communities are an ethnic group of Borneo, residing primarily in northern Sabah in the area surrounding Kudat. Many Rungus now work in town, and have abandoned the communal life of the longhouse for modern Malaysian society. Traditionally animist, with female shamans, most Rungus are now Christian. Considered one of the most traditional ethnic groups in Sabah, many Rungus live in longhouses, with each family having its own separate quarters off a common hall. At the edge of the communal hall, a well-ventilated platform of split bamboo with outward sloping walls provides a place for socializing and communal work. The Rungus longhouse is quite different from the Murut longhouse. The houses are not perched on high stilts, but are usually only three to five feet above ground. The roof is low, and the walls are outward sloped. In olden times, longhouses of over 75 doors are said to have been common. Now, they rarely exceed 10 doors. Usually single story, more modern two-story versions of the longhouse also exist. Single family houses are sometimes built near the longhouse – these take the same form, but are curiously short, looking like a slice from a cake. The traditional Rungus dress is black, often with hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of antique beads. Traditionally all Rungus women wore heavy brass coils around their arms, legs and necks. Brass arm coils are often accompanied by white and coral shell bracelets. Rings of brass may also be worn around the waist. Like the Kadazan-Dusun, Rungus people also celebrate Kaamatan. This festival is usually celebrated on 31 May every year. Even though there is many similarities the way of celebration between this two race but there is also comparison. Rungs did not have its own ritual as in Kadazan-Dusun.

VI. Kadazan;- The largest ethnic group of Sabah, the Kadazan Dusuns form about 30% of the state's population. Actually consisting of two tribes; the Kadazan and the Dusun, they were grouped together as they both share the same language and culture. However, the Kadazan are mainly inhabitants of flat valley deltas, which are conducive to paddy field farming, while the Dusun traditionally lived in the hilly and mountainous regions of interior Sabah. Kadazan culture is heavily influenced by the farming of rice, culminating in various delicacies and alcoholic drinks prepared through differing home-brewed fermentation processes. Tapai and lihing are the main rice wine variants served and consumed in Kadazan populated areas, and are a staple of Kadazan social gatherings and ceremonies. They have their own unique dance called "Sumazau" performed by a couple (male and female) or couples. Here, you see the "sumazau" dance with a bamboo orchestra. The majority of the Kadazans are Christians, mainly Roman Catholics and some Protestants. Islam is also practiced by a growing minority. The most important festival of the Kadazans is the Kaamatan or harvest festival, where the spirit of the paddy is honoured after a year's harvest. This takes place in May, and the two last days of the month are public holidays throughout Sabah. During the celebration, the most celebrated event is the crowning of the 'unduk ngadau' or harvest queen, where native Kadazan-dusuns girls throughout the state compete for the coveted crown. The beauty pageant is held to commemorate the spirit of 'Huminodon', a mythological character of unparalleled beauty said to have given her life in exchange for a bountiful harvest for her community. Contemporary Kadazan food is influenced by Chinese and native cuisine, with unique modifications and nuances as well as particular usage of locally available foodstuffs, particularly bamboo shoots, sago and fresh water fish. The 'pinasakan' is one of the most popular Kadazan dish, which is basically a form of pickled freshwater fish. Another popular dish is 'hinava', which is a form of salad with pieces of raw fish, bitter gourd, as well as other ingredients. Hinava is similar to ceviche i.e. fish marinated in citrus fruit. The 'bambangan' fruit is normally eaten with meals as an appetizer. Another popular appetizer commonly eaten is the unripe mango, normally mixed with soy sauce and chili.