One Rungus village fights to keep their traditions alive… one thread at a time

KUDAT — It’s a familiar scene: a group of women catching up on the latest gossip and sharing their news over coffee and snacks.

In this case, they are even wearing matching outfits; variations of a long black dress trimmed with white motifs and colourful threads.

The setting is an idyllic village in the middle of Kudat in Sabah’s northernmost district, in a traditional Rungus wooden home and the women have more in mind than just mindless chatter.

They call themselves Monungkus, the Rungus word for inheritors of heritage, and their aim is to revive and preserve their unique culture for generations to come.

Keepers of their culture

The Rungus of northern Sabah have long been known for their weaving and beadwork; their rich cultural and historical background is apparent in their handicraft.

Go to any souvenir shop in Sabah and it’s likely the most outstanding hand-stitched cloth or the dazzling colourful beads woven into a series of tribal motifs were made by the hands of an expert Rungus woman.

Exquisite hand-made costumes with intricate weaving and trimmed with chiming bells, solid hand-woven baskets called Rinago made with the lingkong fern plant, and boldly-coloured necklaces called the pinakol that drape across the body are all trademark of the Rungus’s culture which has been proudly passed on to each new generation for decades.

Despite the rapid development that has affected many traditional practices in Sabah, the Rungus have managed to retain much of their traditions and intangible heritage including their language, folk tales, songs, dances and handicraft.

But much of the handicraft is now confined to the more common ones like stringed beads and basketry – those with high commercial value.

Inahami Magupin, one of the members of the group, said that certain crafts like hand-loomed textiles are increasingly rare today.

The ladies of Monungkus in Kampung Inukiran, who are incidentally all related either by blood or marriage, aim to bring as much of the traditional handicraft and art into the mainstream... to make sure their children inherit their forefathers’ skills and culture.

“We want to make sure as much as possible is retained, and that it is passed on to our children who are beginning to lose hold of their roots. Even my generation has to learn a lot of the craft – the traditional motifs and how to do certain tougher weavings.

“Because children nowadays are losing interest in the traditional crafts, we want to start them young and get them involved. We are already teaching them the basics now, and they will also need to learn the language,” she said.

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Kota Kinabalu gallops to Wild West with opening of "cowboy town" Sabandar

KOTA KINABALU: A little cowboy town is Sabah's latest attraction for lovers of the Wild West who want to experience horse riding within a paddock, or experience the beach on horse-drawn carts.

Sabandar Leisure Rides or Riding Centre, which is about an hour’s drive from here, opened its doors on the New Year.

Among its many features are a western American landscape; authentic, 19th century American lodge; stables; restaurants; paddocks; riding trails; walking trails; and lots of horses.

One of its managers, Awang Shamsi Jamih, said the facility was the brainchild of Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) president Datuk Francis Goh and Awang himself, who saw that the area had the potential to be developed into a unique tourism hub.

"The idea came (to us) when we were in Bali, Indonesia, which (has a) similar landscape to Sabandar in Tuaran.

"Goh and I have our own horses, which are kept at the centre, thus the 'cowboy' town concept (was) used to set up the place," he said, adding that the design of the restaurant, lodge, stable and surrounding area was overseen by Goh.

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Countdown to 2017 as Visit Sibu Year, starring Bubu the croc

SIBU: Thousands met tourism mascot ‘Bubu the Crocodile’ when a countdown at Sibu Town Square rang in 2017 as ‘Visit Sibu Year’ amidst a rich tapestry of cultural sounds and sights, and splendour of fireworks on Saturday night.

The VIPs included Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh as the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) held the countdown to the New Year, ushering the town into a year of colourful events where townsfolk will welcome visitors in their tradition of warm hospitality.

Bubu – a combination of two words ‘Sibu’ and ‘Bujang’ the Dayak legendary warrior – was well embraced with loud cheers when the croc pranced around with children on stage in a re-enactment of last March when the mascot was launched. The green mascot represents the friendly warrior that guards and bless Rajang River basin where its people bask in the beauty of ethnic diversity.

The tourism mascot also represents the unspoilt natural beauty of the Sibu hinterland where the reptile has ruled the lush tropical rainforest from time immemorial.

In a celebration that started at 7.30pm, the momentum at 9.30pm peaked with the gathering crowds, until the countdown of fireworks in the clear, night sky rang out 2016 and ring in 2017 at midnight.

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All-media promotions to boost Miri tourism in Chinese market

MIRI: More measures will be carried out to promote local tourism this year, including the introduction of tourism products to foreign markets such as China.

Assistant Minister for Sarawak Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin said many tourists from China were interested to visit Malaysia, particularly this city due to its natural attractions such as the seaside and beaches.

“They (Chinese tourists) loves the beaches that we have in Miri – they are even producing a movie here, taking advantage of the ‘Blue Tears’ phenomenon at Tusan beach,” he told reporters at the ‘New Year Countdown’ in Permymall.

Lee, who is Senadin assemblyman, said that some Chinese tourists would go to Australia just to enjoy the beautiful Gold Coast of Queensland.

“We also have beautiful beaches as good as the Gold Coast in Australia, and with the right and regular promotions through both electronic and digital media, we can expect a large number of tourists from China flocking into Miri.”

Towards this end, he stressed that all tourism operators must work together with the government in scouting for new market in China, including through the introduction of local tourism products.

“At the same time, we will also carry out digital or electronic promotions via social media from China, to further boost the market of Malaysian tourism products there,” he said.

According to Lee, apart from the beautiful natural environment, the Chinese tourists are also drawn to the unique culture and tradition of the multiracial communities in Sarawak, including good food.

“We are targeting to receive at least five million tourists coming to Miri this year. With the existence of the new market from China, this is not impossible,” he said.

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Sepupok or "Old Niah Town" – a unique history

SEPUPOK is also known as Old Niah Town. Many people are often confused by its two names and unique history.

During the Brooke rule and the British colonial administration, Sepupok was the gateway to the Niah Caves and therefore, the precious birds’ nests as well.

Originally, it was a 12-woodenshop Chinese bazaar set up in the early 20th century and surrounded by Iban longhouses, Penan settlements and Kedayan fishing villages.

Until very recently, people travelled to the Niah Caves by longboat along the Niah River in the absence of no roads between Miri and Old Niah or Sepupok.

In the 1950’s and 60’s, the research and excavation of the Niah Caves were conducted via Sepupok. The administrative centre of Niah, especially Subis, is in the District Office building on top of the hill, overlooking Sungai Peri and the old Sepupok bazaar.

Thirty years ago, the Malaysian government built a road joining Sepupok to the main trans-Sarawak road, leading to the founding of a new township called Batu Niah and putting Niah Caves on the world tourist map. This has led to the ‘Second Life of Sepupok’.

In the last two years, a new Sepupok — its ‘third life’ — had risen up along the new Coastal Road.

Iban-Chinese trading

In her younger days, Monica Ngumbang’s world revolved around her longhouse along the Niah River.

Naturally, she compared most things with what she knew. When first brought to see the Chinese shops of Sepupok by her parents in the late 60’s, she likened the whole Chinese bazaar to their longhouse.

“The shops were the bilik where the towkays sold stuff or served coffee and the five foot way was the ruai. Upstairs would be the sleeping area for the families. And like the longhouse, the bazaar faced the river,” she said.

Monica was born in Rumah Limbang, not too far from Sepupok, more than 40 years ago. She vividly remembers the Chinese wooden shops and the Chinese friends she made there.

Her parents tied their longboats to jetty of their special ‘towkay’. Each family would be closely connected with one towkay.

It was always a good outing for the family to sail down the Niah River to Sepupok where Monica’s parents would sell their rubber sheets, rice and jungle produce.

On their return journey, they were happy to load their store-bought items in their longboat. The children loved having some cakes, biscuits and even sweets as treats. Aerated water from the coffeeshop was a must while their mum would also buy some material.

Monica remembers the towkays and the Ibans from the various longhouses were the best of friends, calling each other by their nicknames. The usual arrangement was for the customers to purchase goods and pay at the end of the month.

Each family would have a special ‘account book’ to record their purchases from the towkays.

Thriving town

Inggol Rangong, who was born in Ulu Niah, told thesundaypost Sepupok was not only a ‘thriving town’ back then but also a centre for news about the ‘outside world’. The Ulu folks brought down rice, rubber sheets and jungle produce, including rattan and game meat.

Inggol said: “Sepupok was the business centre, before Batu Niah was established. It was truly an old trading centre during the colonial days.”

The Chinese towkays also conducted ‘mobile’ business upriver in longboats filled with biscuits, sugar, salt, salted vegetables, fresh Chinese vegetables.

They would stay a week at each longhouse, and on their return journey, their longboats would be filled with jungle produce such as rattan, fruits, rice and rubber sheets.

The relationship between the Chinese and the Iban was always amicable and some even became ‘bian’ or brothers.

In return, when the Ibans needed to stay at Sepupok for administrative purposes (Sepupok was then the British administrative centre of the Niah Valley), they were welcomed to stay with the shopkeepers and their families.

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