Latest news with #Dayaks
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Landmark 100-year-old peace treaty in Sarawak commemorated in new book
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi looking through the newly-launched book commemorating the Kapit peacemaking ceremony at the Dayak Cultural Foundation in Kuching. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star KUCHING: On Nov 16, 1924, a peacemaking ceremony in Kapit brought a formal end to tribal conflicts among the indigenous communities in Sarawak's interior. The event brought together Iban, Kayan, Kenyah and Kajang leaders, who signed a treaty in a grand ceremony marked by customary reconciliation rituals and formal administrative protocols. This historic occasion and its 100th anniversary celebration in December last year have now been documented in a new book, "Commemorating a Century of Kapit Peacemaking (1924-2024)", by the Dayak Cultural Foundation and Tun Jugah Foundation. Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the book captured a valuable turning point in Sarawak's history. "The Kapit peacemaking ceremony held a century ago was a pivotal event that laid the foundation for lasting peace in Sarawak. "It marked the end of inter- and intra-tribal warfare, forging a spirit of unity among the diverse ethnic communities," he said when launching the book at the Dayak Cultural Foundation here on Friday (May 30). Nanta said Sarawak now enjoyed peace and stability, with a conducive environment for development and progress. "Our different ethnic groups now work together harmoniously, sharing power and respecting one another. "This unity is the strength of our state and it bodes well for Sarawak's future." Nanta also said a Dataran Bujang Berani, or Warriors' Square, would be constructed in Kapit to commemorate the Dayaks who served in the nation's security forces. "Even before Malaysia's formation, they fought in Malaya during the Emergency. Until today, many Dayaks from Kapit serve in the security forces," he said. Meanwhile, editor Dr Regina Garai said the book recorded the history of the Kapit agreement as well as the events and reflections of its centenary celebration. "It is crucial to document the events and activities surrounding this momentous occasion, or they risk being forgotten over time. "By recording this history in a book, we ensure that future generations can learn about, appreciate and understand our efforts in commemorating this important event," she said. She added that the book would serve as a resource for future generations and researchers, besides igniting interest in Sarawak's history. "We also hope it will serve as a bridge between past and present, offering insights for scholars, educators and the wider community."
The Star
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sarawakian craftsman races to complete sugu tinggi orders for Gawai
Gawai, Sarawak's annual harvest festival, will be celebrated this Sunday. Considered the biggest celebration in the state, it is observed with much fervour among the Dayaks – the collective name for the tribes of Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit and Murut. And like many Ibans, Louis Weslly, 38, is also anticipating the festivities this weekend. He is especially looking forward to catching up with his relatives and joining the celebration over traditional food like manuk pansuh, or chicken cooked in bamboo stalk, kasam ensabi, or fermented vegetables, and drinks – especially his favourite, tuak, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice, yeast and sugar. With steady hands and a sharp focus, Louis crafts each sugu tinggi into a beautiful piece of tradition. Louis has been busy leading up to this year's Gawai celebration, fulfilling orders for 30 pieces of his handcrafted sugu tinggi – the ornate silver filigree headgear worn as part of the traditional female Iban attire, known as Ngepan Iban. 'Busy gila bah (I've been crazy busy). I've been working for about 12-15 hours daily the past few weeks to complete the orders,' says Louis during a Zoom interview from his home in Batu Kawa, Kuching. 'I even roped in my nine siblings to help me out,' adds Weslly, wiping his forehead. 'My customers want the sugu tinggi for Kumang Gawai (a cultural beauty pageant held in conjunction with Gawai) and their wedding. My orders come from all over Sarawak, including Miri, Sibu and Bintulu.' Louis and his sister Almanda, 19, putting the final touches on a sugu tinggi, ensuring every detail is just right. Sugu tinggi is a tall and elaborate headpiece, handcrafted from metals like aluminium, copper or silver. It comprises a tiered structure with decorative elements shaped like petals and leaves, and a base band that fits snugly around the wearer's head. A wire frame is used to connect and support the structure. Each sugu tinggi is made up of over 200 individual parts and weighs approximately 200g. Louis says crafting one demands precision, patience and great attention to details. 'It takes about a week to complete a single sugu tinggi. You need to have a lot of patience and a keen eye for every tiny element.' Louis masterfully turns aluminium sheets into intricate works of art. Beginning of a journey As a traditional costume entrepreneur, Louis also rents out ceremonial attire of the Dayak community and specialises in creating the sugu tinggi. Ngepan Iban includes a knee-length kain kebat (woven skirt), a beaded necklace called marek empang, a decorative shoulder cloth called selampai, tumpa bentuk (silver bangles), sementing or rawai ringgit (coin belt ornament) and additional ornate silver accessories that adorn the waist, arms and ankles of the wearer. The Ngepan Iban costume Each sub-group of the Iban community has slight variations in their costume design, colours or accessories. Louis crafts different types of sugu tinggi to match these traditional costumes. For example, the dujung manik, worn by the Iban of Batang Rajang, features a rattan skullcap decorated with colourful threads. The sugu tinggi pirak from Iban Saribas is known for its distinct use of silver filigree. Sugu ensuga tisir from Iban Saratok, meanwhile, is adorned with paper or plastic flowers. He's passionate about his Iban heritage, and is determined to keep this tradition alive for as long as he can. 'If I don't continue (making) this heritage item, who will? Not many people my age are interested in this because they are not passionate about it. Some people prefer to buy sugu tinggi from online platforms because they're cheaper,' says Louis. 'But the difference is, those are mass-produced, not handmade. The materials can be flimsy and often, the headgear doesn't hold up well. 'Growing up, I watched older women – in my village in Kuching and at our family longhouse in Kanowit, Sibu – craft sugu tinggi in the days leading up to Gawai,' he says. 'What amazed me the most was how patient these elderly crafters were; sketching the designs freehand and only using simple tools like scissors, pliers and wire. Yet, despite the simplicity of their tools, each sugu tinggi looked beautiful and sparkling. I am grateful that I managed to learn some of the skills from them,' says Louis, who started making sugu tinggi as a teenager. The Ngepan Iban beauty representative styled by Louis secured second place at the 2025 Pekit Kumang pageant in Lubok Antu. Photo: Louis Weslly This passion was reignited when he was away from home, as a furniture salesman in Johor Baru. 'A close friend needed a sugu tinggi for a cultural event in JB,' he recalls. 'I managed to put together a simple piece with the basic knowledge that I had, plus help from YouTube tutorials.' To his surprise, word about his craftsmanship spread quickly. Louis (left), who styled the bridal couple, with his friend, photographer Tayren Gorden during a wedding photoshoot. Photo: Tayren Gorden Soon, Iban women living in and around Johor began reaching out to him with requests – and that marked the beginning of his journey as a sugu tinggi craftsman. 'What started out as a hobby became something much bigger. The orders kept coming in and eventually, I left my full-time job and returned to Kuching to start a home-based business making sugu tinggi. 'Never in a million years did I think I'd go from being a salesman to a sugu tinggi crafter,' he says with a laugh. Passionate pursuit Louis' workstation in his parents' home is nothing short of a treasure trove of Iban culture and creativity. On his workstation, sheets of aluminium foil are scattered across the surface, alongside scissors, pliers and coils of fine metal wire that is used to shape each sugu tinggi. Every element of a sugu tinggi is hand cut and meticulously crafted. On a side table, a few finished headgears sit proudly on retainers, shimmering under the light. Louis begins by sketching the design of each sugu tinggi on an aluminium sheet. He then cuts it using a roller blade and carefully assembles the pieces. It's a task that demands precision – the aluminium is sharp, and if he isn't careful, it can easily cut his fingers. The starting price for one of his handcrafted aluminium sugu tinggi is RM350. The most expensive ones are made from copper, and the price can go up to RM3,000. One of the distinctive features of the Ngepan Batang Rajang is the baju manik (beaded dress) made from colourful glass beads, and dujung manik headgear. 'Sugu tinggi made from aluminium is popular because it is more affordable and its colour lasts longer. Copper, on the other hand, may look shiny and bright at first, but it tends to tarnish over time. You will need to polish it regularly, and that takes a lot of time and effort.' His cabinets are filled with traditional costumes, complete with their trimmings, neatly arranged and ready to be rented out for Gawai. They include couple suits from different communities including Iban Seratok, Iban Batang Air, Orang Ulu and Iban Batang Rajang. Louis sources most of his traditional costume sets and accessories from Lubok Antu in Sarawak and Lanjak in Kalimantan, where his relatives live. Lubok Antu, a border town about four hours' drive from Kuching, lies at the edge of Sarawak and Kalimantan. He describes it as a haven for traditional Iban attire, with items more readily available and affordable than in larger cities like Kuching, Miri or Sibu. 'These sets are easy to find because many Iban people in Kalimantan still wear traditional costumes to cultural functions. Plus, it is also more affordable there. I usually buy a mix of old and new fabrics. The older, handwoven pieces are considered antiques and cost more,' says Louis, who has paid up to RM25,000 for an antique Ngepan Iban costume. 'Never in a million years did I think I'd go from being a salesman to a sugu tinggi crafter,' says Louis. Photo: Tayren Gorden He is passionate about preserving his heritage and is willing to travel far and wide to source vintage items. Perhaps this is one of the reasons he is considered one of the most sought-after sugu tinggi makers and costume rental specialists in the state. He has adorned brides all over Sarawak and as far as Kalimantan, in traditional outfits. In the last five years, he has also conducted close to 30 sugu tinggi courses under the invitation of Kraftangan Malaysia (Sarawak branch) in Kuala Lumpur, across Sarawak and in Brunei. 'When I teach others, I feel a strong sense of passion to share what I know. To improve my skills, I read books, visit craft shops like the ones in Lubok Antu, to see what items they sell and try to recreate them myself. It's all part of my learning process. 'Most of my students learn to make sugu tinggi for their own use, not for sale. It gives me great satisfaction knowing that little by little, I help pass down a part of Iban heritage to more people,' says Louis, as he continues to complete his remaining headgear orders for Gawai.
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Doppa demands ‘no risk' exemption from EU for indigenous Dayak palm oil farmers
Data from Sarawak shows 48,000 independent smallholders are actively involved in supplying the 85 mills that process their oil palm harvests. – Bernama photo KUCHING (May 30): The Dayak Oil Palm Planters Association (Doppa) is calling on the European Union (EU) to grant a 'no risk' exemption for indigenous farmers in Sarawak, following the EU's decision to classify Malaysia as Standard Risk under its deforestation regulations. The livelihoods of the indigenous people in Sarawak who depend on farming will be affected if the EU fails to take into account the negative impacts of the listing on the indigenous people in Sarawak, Doppa President Napolean R. Ningkos said in a press statement today. 'Doppa sees the EU as an unjust body that failed to engage directly with those most affected by the regulations and relied instead on misinformation created by third parties to exclude smallholders in Sarawak from the EU market,' he claimed. Data from Sarawak shows 48,000 independent smallholders are actively involved in supplying the 85 mills that process their oil palm harvests. 'Our concern is that while established big plantation companies may have the ability to provide proof of traceability for corporate oil palm plantations, the amount of paperwork required under Standard Risk may push corporate mills that supply the EU market to cut off independent smallholders,' he stressed. He also criticised the EU's reliance on satellite mapping to monitor compliance, arguing that such technology is flawed when applied to indigenous lands in Sarawak. 'There is zero risk of deforestation for palm oil by Dayak farmers in Sarawak. All of our farms, whether existing or to be planted after the compliance date on December 2025, will be on old farmlands.' 'Satellite mapping is faulty in that it may detect activity on overgrown fallow lands as new deforestation,' he said. 'The EU must be informed that the indigenous Dayaks of Sarawak were largely subsistence farmers who practised shifting cultivation before switching to oil palm cultivation in the 1990s. 'Our farms can only be cultivated after land titles are granted under the Sarawak Land Code, which recognises Native Customary Rights (NCR) as legitimate land ownership. The baseline for obtaining a land title is that our forefathers must have already developed the land,' he explained. He urged the EU to recognise that no forests were cleared for oil palm, cocoa, or rubber farms operated by indigenous Dayak smallholders. 'The oil palm fruits produced by Dayak farmers in Sarawak represent one of the clearest examples of a no-deforestation supply. Yet, the EU's regulations threaten to remove us from their market,' he said. Doppa insists that granting a 'no risk' exemption is the only fair way to ensure indigenous farmers are not punished by regulations they are unequipped to comply with.
Malaysiakini
20-05-2025
- General
- Malaysiakini
For Sarawakians, the right hornbill matters
COMMENT | In Sarawak, the hornbill isn't just a bird - it's an emblem of the soul. It soars in their myths, crowns their state crest, and gives the land of the Dayaks their moniker: Bumi Kenyalang - Land of the Hornbills. So when Affin Bank Berhad rolled out its new Kenyalang Card, claiming it was a tribute to Sarawak's identity, one would assume they knew what bird they were featuring. They didn't. Instead of the Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros), which is the official state bird of Sarawak, the card showcases the Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) - a non-native species. That's not just a design error. That's a failure of cultural due diligence.
Borneo Post
16-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Memories of Santubong during its heyday
A postcard view of Santubong village from the river, shown in this image taken in the 1960s. ONCE upon a time, in the 1950s, only those who owned their own boats or were senior government servants could dream of travelling to Santubong for holiday. The civil servants could book in advance the rental of a government launch, which was very luxurious and could take up to 20 passengers, depending on the size. Up till 1987 when the Santubong Bridge was opened to the public, this was the only way to get there. For the first two years after the Holiday Inn Damai Beach opened in 1985, there were only ferry services from Kuching. These took almost an hour and one must disembark at a jetty and be transported by road to the resort. The state government had built some 'junior bungalows' and a 'senior bungalow' on undulating hillocks facing the mouth of where the Sarawak River meets the South China Sea. These were extremely popular and always fully booked months in advance for school breaks and public holidays. A view of the government bungalows on the hill in this 1963 photo, courtesy of Brian Houldershaw. Kampung Santubong is rich with history. According to the 2020 census, its population was 117,751—82 per cent comprising the Malays, 10 per cent Dayaks, and 8 per cent Chinese. It is only about 35km from Kuching, taking about a 35-minute drive on a good day. I have many fond memories of my many holidays spent in Santubong. In the early to mid-1960s, we would lodge at the government bungalows, having travelled there by boat (private speedboats or government launches). After 1987, we would stay at the Damai Beach Resort, under its various managements—first the Holiday Inn, then Sheraton, now the SEDC Group. In the 1960s during school holidays, our entire family would book one whole bungalow and sometimes, even invited friends to stay with us. There was no limit to the number of guests allowed in these lodges. I remember the old shophouses situated at the foothill of the bungalow's compound, a short walking distance and it also served as the gateway to the entrance of the rustic and beautiful Malay 'kampung' (village). The houses on wooden stilts and the sandy walkways under the swaying coconut trees are all still there. A view in this photo of Kampung Santubong, taken in 1963 by Brian Houldershaw, shows the cows roaming freely at the Malay village. There used to be five shophouse units in the old days. The most popular and well-stocked back then was called 'Soon Hong' (in Hokkien, this phrase means 'smooth wind' or a common greeting meaning 'bon voyage'). It was owned and operated by Chang Kuo Hong (also known as 'Ah Kun'), a Hainanese from China. His daughter Annie, and son-in-law Eric Yap have kindly provided me with some photos and information, which I share here. I remember we used to buy our provisions and had eaten there many times. It was always very busy and the very genial pleasant old man also served the best Hainanese chicken rice, 'char kuih tiaw' and 'mee goreng'. Chang would work 364 days a year and opened his shop daily from 7am till 10pm. He retired each night after tucking in a bottle of Guinness stout! He only took one day off every year, and that was for Chinese New Year. Chang had started his business in 1937 and retired in 2008 when his children took over. He passed away in November 2010, at age 84, and left the shop to his five children. The property, 'Soon Hong' shop at Kampung Santubong, certainly deserves recognition for restoration as a Sarawak Heritage Site, for all its history and major significance to the region. Chang's daughter Annie and her husband recalled the days before the bridge was completed in 1987, when they had to make daily trips from Kuching to help out in the shop. A family photo taken during dinner at Soon Hong in 1980s, with Tan Sri William Tan, a close family friend (seated, third right) and Chang (seated, second left) seen at this gathering. A normal day would start very early, around 5am or 6am, when they went to the poultry market and the 'Cheko' wet market at Gambier Street in Kuching, to buy chicken, vegetables and freshly-made noodles to bring down to the shop. Only seafood was freshly available at Santubong. They would then use the Chinese cargo motor-launch parked at the Old Ban Hock Wharf. This journey took between two and three hours depending on the tide and weather. If they missed the 8am launch, they would then have to drive down to Pasir Pandak Beach to take a fishing boat across the rivermouth to Santubong, which would be more costly, and also more dangerous subject to bad weather conditions. They both reminisced that during the colonial days and the early years of Malaysia, up till the late 1980s, those were the heydays of Santubong. Business was booming, and the village and its populace had prospered with the big influx of tourists from Kuching and elsewhere. Weekends usually witnessed traffic congestion along the routes into the village, and the shops did a roaring business. During my youthful holidays spent at the bungalows on the hills at Santubong, there were school excursions. We had our 'summer holidays' with classmates when we would all be up to our naughty teenage jinks and jaunts. We did not mind that we had to walk more than a mile to get to the water as the beach at low tide would recede very far. The beach itself was nothing much to speak of: the sand was brown and sticky, neither golden nor fluffy as the nicer ones at Pandan, Pugu or the other newer beaches now reachable by road since the 2000s. We would bring our own food and provisions, and do our own cooking. We would play cards, sometimes 'mahjong' till the early hours—many did not even get to sleep! For some of us, we had our very first alcoholic drink—a beer, a stout, or even a brandy or a ginger ale. In those days, whisky, gin and wine were hard to come by. If memory serves me well, I also recall that one or two of us had also 'courted' future wives during such overnighter picnics! In the latter years after the Damai Beach Resort became the hottest beach spot in town, and during my working years, we would often spend weekends with friends and their family members by booking entire chalets next to each other. Faces and ages would have changed by the 1980s, but what was de rigueur in the 1960s were repeated—the fun-making, the cooking, the gambling, and of course, the drinking! Times may have changed, but human behaviours have stayed the same. Chang donning his straw sunhat—a portrait taken by KF Wong in the 1980s. In 1987, I had brought film director John Milius, and Oscar-winning production designer Gil Parrondo, twice to scout Santubong and its jungles for scenes suitable for 'Farewell to the King'. They had both loved what I showed them, but we had insurmountable logistical issues to overcome as the bridge would not open till after our planned film shoot. So instead of building a number of film sets and bringing the major part of the shooting to Santubong, we had opted for Matang instead. However the filmmakers were so enchanted by Santubong that they did shoot one vital scene there—among the mangroves along the side-road leading to where The Village by Singgahsana is sited today. Nick Nolte and our film crew spent an entire day covered in mud and slime inside the large monsoon drains lined with mangrove palms and roots shooting a sequence, which eventually ended up for less than a minute of screen time in the final cut. Nolte was virtually crawling among the mangroves and we had to throw a few sucking leeches at him to make it look authentic. Santubong had its heydays in the 1950s-1990s period, during which time it was 'the picnic spot for the rich and famous' and later, the late night disco joint when Shamsir Askor was the general manager of the then-Holiday Inn Damai Beach Resort. A very recent photo of the shophouse block at Santubong bazaar, taken by Eric Yap. Soon Hong is at the left-end corner. Today, Santubong has matured and mellowed out as a destination for many to take leisurely weekend drives; a stop-by for those going to Kampung Buntal for seafood; and famous now for its annual Rainforest World Music Festival held at the Sarawak Cultural Village. Its hotels no longer attract the crème-de-la-crème of the tourists' crowd. Frankly, their reputation took a beating from decades of neglect and non-maintenance, and even though renovated and spruced up and aiming for the 'high end' with four-figure room rates—well, sorry, it is too little too late, folks! Today, the local, younger generation flock to so many other more attractive picnic spots, from Lundu, Sematan, Pugu to Matang and Serian homestays and countless other places. The memories of the golden days of Santubong will always remain for many of us, but only as that—memories. * The opinions expressed in this article are the columnist's own and do not reflect the view of the newspaper.
