Latest news with #Ibans
Borneo Post
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Step up promotion of kuntau among young Ibans, association told
Snowdan (standing front, sixth left) and Basil, on his right, join other guests in a group photo with Sikar members. KUCHING (May 12): Sarawak Iban Kuntau Association (Sikar) needs to intensify the promotion of this traditional martial art to the younger members of the community. Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Datuk Snowdan Lawan, in making this call, regards the 'kuntau' as much a part of the Iban heritage and identity as the language. The Balai Ringin assemblyman also points out that the martial art holds creative elements to justify its preservation and protection by the state government. 'The Chinese have their 'kung fu', the Malays their silat, and the Ibans, their 'kuntau'. 'I see these martial arts as tools to identity these respective races,' he said in his opening speech for Sikar's annual dinner at a hotel here last Saturday. Adding on, Snowdan noted that other Dayak groups had welcomed Iban kuntau because of its practicality across the aspects of athleticism, aesthetics and self-defence. 'In this regard, Sikar is now tasked with grouping all kuntau enthusiasts all over Sarawak, improving the training programmes and promoting it to youths.' Snowdan also encouraged all NGOs to apply for financial assistance from his ministry. 'There is the annual RM10 million allocation meant for NGOs, including Sikar, to facilitate them in holding core activities, as well as another RM50 million annual fund meant to assist any NGO planning to hold significant festivals.' Later, Snowdan pledged RM10,000 for Sikar to finance its various activities. In addition, the state deputy minister also called upon Sikar members to come and provide moral support to the ministry-endorsed Mr Keling Borneo International 2025 Championship, to be staged at the Summermall Kota Samarahan this May 17. 'Almost all well-known Dayak athletes, from the past era to the present day, are expected to attend the event,' he added. Meanwhile, Sikar president Basil Laman Amin in his welcoming remarks said for now, there are 50 'kelang' (kuntau training centres) across Sarawak under the purview of the association. 'Our Sabahan counterparts have also expressed intention to collaborate with Sikar in holding major programmes in the near future,' he added. Also present at the dinner were Akademi Sarawak Dayak Iban Association head Mabong Uggang and Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) information chief Churchill E Drem – both co-founders of Sikar. kuntau lead martial arts Sarawak Iban Kuntau Association Snowdan Lawan
Borneo Post
07-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Vanishing voices: The struggle to preserve Sarawak's indigenous languages, cultures
Photo from The Borneo Post's archive shows a group of Sekapan womenfolk of a village in Belaga District, especially known for their tattooing tradition. A STUDY conducted by Sarawak Language Technologies (SaLT), a research group established by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), on the preservation of small indigenous tribes focusing on their language and culture discovered that 63 languages were spoken across Sarawak. This astonishing number of languages spoken is attributed to Sarawak having the most ethnically-diverse indigenous population in Malaysia. The Ibans, who make up 28.8 per cent of the state's population, make the largest group. Other major ethnic groups are the Bidayuhs who make up eight per cent of the population, Orang Ulu (a collective term for the upriver groups comprising the Kayans, the Kenyahs, the Kelabits and the Lun Bawangs) who make up 6.3 per cent, and Melanau, 4.9 per cent. The 2022 Sarawak Interpretation (Amendment) Bill officially recognised 12 additional ethnic groups: Bagatan, Bakong, Bemali, Berawan, Dali, Lakiput, Jatti Miriek, Narom, Sa'ban, Tatau, Tring, and Vaie. Other smaller groups include the Sekapans, the Lahanans, the Tanjongs, the Kanowit Penans, the Punans, the Kedayans, the Salako and the Lara, while a further 40 ethnic sub-groups have been documented, although the number can vary due different classifications by different researchers. However, inter-marriage and assimilation of small indigenous groups into dominant ethnic groups have led to the decline in their native speakers. This trend has led to extinction of languages of some of the small indigenous groups and consequently, the disappearance of their races. In 2023, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Sarawak confirmed the extinction of four indigenous languages: Seru, Pegu, Bliun and Lelak. The Serus, who lived in the coastal belt of Batang Lupar and Sadong rivers among the Malays and the Ibans, were assimilated into these two dominant groups, and their language disappeared in 1950s with no known speakers. Like the other languages that became extinct, there is no written records or linguistic data preserved, making revival efforts almost impossible. A Unesco report shows an estimated 40 per cent of the world's 6,700 languages are endangered, and one indigenous language disappears every week. The ramifications of the extinction of a language are wide and disastrous as it results in irreplaceable knowledge about ecosystems, medicine and cultural practices and ultimately, the vanishing of the speakers' ethnic identity. While the languages of dominant ethnic groups are in no danger going extinct at the moment, they do face the insidious threat of language attrition. People who have moved away from their towns and villages tend to gradually lose the proficiency of their mother tongue because they no longer use their language regularly. Rural folks who have settled in towns and cities often find it hard to recall specific words as they experience decline in their ability to speak or understand their language fluently. Some words in their language are replaced by words in the dominant language of their new environment. In professional and work environments, the use of English and Malay also has a big influence in the language attrition of native languages. Recognising the threat of attrition to their languages and culture, several indigenous races through their non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations have published dictionaries of their languages and set up museums and galleries of their artefacts. It is too late to revive the lost indigenous languages of Sarawak, but there is hope yet for the other languages facing extinction – thanks to the efforts of research groups and NGOs of various racial groups. However, even with the preservation of their languages, the force of assimilation of some of the small racial groups leading to the extinction of their ethnic identity is overwhelming. It would need active resistance, cultural revitalisation and legal protection of their ancestral land rights to stem the tide. The future of small ethnic groups depends on their own efforts to preserve their culture, and also the help from the government, organisations from the dominant societies and their willingness to accept pluralism. Dayak Iban Kayan Kelabit native Orang Ulu sarawak
Borneo Post
02-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
St George Church to build new complex starting this June as Catholic community in Sebauh grows
Bishop Ng (seated center) in a photocall priests and some attendees during the dinner event. BINTULU (May 2): St George Church Sebauh will be constructing a new church building complex, expected to begin this June. The announcement was made by Bishop Richard Ng of the Diocese of Miri during the St George Church Sebauh 50th Golden Jubilee Dinner, which drew around 700 parishioners and guests at Dinner World Restaurant here on Wednesday. 'This is great news for the people of Sebauh, who have long dreamed of a fully equipped, comfortable, and modern church in line with the times,' said Bishop Ng during the 50th anniversary of St George Church Sebauh celebration dinner on Wednesday. He said the proposed new church building complex was in recognition of the growing number of the Catholic community over the years, especially among the Ibans, Orang Ulus, and other local ethnic groups. 'Since its establishment in 1975, from only 43 believers, it now has more than 12,000 baptised members in the Sebauh district,' he said. He added that the new church complex will include not only a main worship hall but also residences for a priest and a catechist.
