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Ethnic groups

Sarawak has more than 40 sub-ethnic groups, each with its own distinct language, culture and lifestyle. Cities and

larger towns are populated predominantly by Malays, Melanaus, Chinese, and a smaller percentage

of Ibans and Bidayuhs who have migrated from their home-villages for employment reasons. Sarawak is rather

distinctive from the rest of Malaysia in that there is only a small community of Indians living in the state.

Dayak Iban

The Ibans comprise the largest percentage (almost 34%) of Sarawak's population. Formerly reputed to be the most

formidable headhunters on the island of Borneo, the Ibans of today are a generous, hospitable and placid people.

[citation needed] Because of their history as pirates and fishermen, they were conventionally referred to as the "Sea

Dayaks". The early Iban settlers who migrated from Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo south of Sarawak) via

the Kapuas River and crossed over the Kelingkang range and set up home in the river valleys of Batang Ai, the

Skrang River, Saribas, and the Rajang River. The Ibans dwell in longhouses, a stilted structure comprising many

rooms housing a whole community of families.[citation needed]

An Iban longhouse may still display head trophies or antu pala. These suspended heads mark a tribal victory and

were a source of honor. The Dayak Iban ceased practicing headhunting in the 1930s.[citation needed]

The Ibans are renowned for their Pua Kumbu (traditional Iban weavings), silver craft, wooden carvings and bead

work. Iban tattoos, which were originally symbols of bravery among Iban warriors, have become amongst the most

distinctive in the world.[citation needed] The Ibans are also famous for their tuak, a sweet rice wine which is served during

big celebrations and festive occasions.

A majority of Ibans practice Christianity. However, like most other ethnic groups in Sarawak, they still observe many

of their traditional rituals and beliefs. Sarawak celebrates colourful festivals such as the Gawai Dayak (harvest

festival), Gawai Kenyalang (hornbill, or the god of war festival), penuaian padi and Gawai Antu (festival of the dead).

Chinese

The Chinese first came to Sarawak as traders and explorers in the 6th century. Today, they make up 26% of the

population of Sarawak and consist of communities built from the economic migrants of the 19th and early 20th

centuries.

The first Chinese (Hakka) migrants worked as labourers in the gold mines at Bau or on plantations. Through their

clan associations, business acumen and work ethic, the Chinese organised themselves economically and rapidly

dominated commerce. Today, the Chinese are amongst Sarawak's most prosperous ethnic groups.

The Sarawak Chinese belong to a wide range of dialect groups, the most significant being Hakka (dialect|Hakka),

Hokkien(dialect|Hokkien), Teochew(Dialect|Teochew), Hailam(dialect|Hailam), Foochow(dialect|Foochow) and

Henghua(Dialect|Henghua). Whereas Hakka is spoken predominantly by the farmers in the interior, Hokkien and

Teochew are the dominant dialect spoken within the major trading towns and among early traders and businessmen.

Hailam were well-known as coffee-shop operators, the Henghua is famous as fishermen. (Notable differences from

those who presided in West Malaysia, the most common spoken dialect among all the differing groups was

Cantonese). Mandarin however was and still is the unifying language spoken by all the different dialectic groups.

(Both East and West Malaysia) The Chinese maintain their ethnic heritage and culture and celebrate all the major

cultural festivals, most notably Chinese New Year and the Hungry Ghost Festival. The Sarawak Chinese are

predominantly Buddhists and Christians.

Malay

The Malays make up 21% of the population in Sarawak. Traditionally fishermen, these seafaring people chose to

form settlements on the banks of the many rivers of Sarawak. Today, many Malays have migrated to the cities where

they are heavily involved in the public and private sectors and taken up various professions. Malay villages

(kampungs) - a cluster of wooden houses on stilts, many of which are still located by rivers on the outskirts of major

towns and cities, play home to traditional cottage industries. The Malays are famed for their wood carvings, silver and

brass craftings as well as traditional Malays textile weaving with silver and gold thread (kain songket).

Malays are Muslim by religion, having been converted to the faith some 600 years ago with the Islamification of their

native region. Their religion is reflected in their culture and art and Islamic symbolism is evident in local architecture -

from homes to government buildings.

Melanau

The Melanaus have been thought to be amongst the original settlers of Sarawak. Originally from Mukah (the 10th

Administrative Division as launched in March 2002), the Melanaus traditionally lived in tall houses. Nowadays, they

have adopted a Malay lifestyle, living in kampong-type settlements. Traditionally, Melanaus were fishermen and still

today, they are reputed as some of the finest boat-builders and craftsmen.

While the Melanaus are ethnically different from the Malays, their lifestyles and practices are quite similar especially

in the larger towns and cities where most Melanau have adopted the Islamic faith.

The Melanaus were believed to originally worship spirits in a practice verging on paganism. Today most of them are

Muslim and some are Christians, though they still celebrate traditional animist festivals such as the annual Kaul

Festival.

Dayak Bidayuh

Concentrated mainly on the West end of Borneo, the Bidayuhs make up 10% of the population in Sarawak are now

most numerous in the hill counties of Bau and Serian, within half an hour drive from Kuching.

Historically, as other tribes were migrating into Sarawak and forming settlements (particularly the Malays from the

neighbouring archipelagos as they shore up along the coastal areas and riversides) the peace-loving, meek-natured

Bidayuhs retreated further inland, hence earning them the name of "Land Dayaks n land owners". The word Bidayuh

in itself literally means "land people" in Biatah dialect. In Bau-Jagoi/Singai dialect, the pronunciation is "Bidoyoh"

which also carry the same meaning.

The traditional community construction of the Bidayuh is the "baruk", a roundhouse that rises about 1.5 metres off the

ground. It serves as the granary and the meeting house for the settlement's community. Longhouses were typical in

the olden days, similar to that of the Ibans.

Typical of the Sarawak indigenous groups, the Bidayuhs are well-known for their hospitality, and are reputed to be

the best makers of tuak, or rice wine. They also do arak tonok,some kind of moonshine.

The Bidayuhs speak a number of different but related dialects. Some Bidayuhs speak either English or Malay as their

main language. While some of them still practice traditional religions, the majority of modern-day Bidayuhs have

adopted the Christian faith.

Dayak Orang Ulu

The phrase Orang Ulu means upriver people and is a term used to collectively describe the numerous tribes that live

upriver in Sarawak's vast interior. Such groups include the major Kayan and Kenyah tribes, and the smaller

neighbouring groups of the Kajang, Kejaman, Punan, Ukit, and Penan. Nowadays, the definition also includes the

down-river tribes of the Lun Bawang, Lun Dayeh(mean upriver/far upstream), Berawan, Saban as well as the plateau-

dwelling Kelabits. The various Orang Ulu groups together make up roughly 5.5% of Sarawak's population. The Orang

Ulu are artistic people with longhouses elaborately decorated with murals and woodcarvings. They are also well-

known for their intricate beadwork and detailed tattoos. The Orang Ulu tribe can also be identified by their unique

music - distinctive sounds from their sape, a stringed instrument not unlike the mandolin.

A vast majority of the Orang Ulu tribe are Christians but traditional religions are still practiced in some areas.

Some of the major tribes making up the Orang Ulu group include :

Kayan

There are approximately 15,000 Kayans in Sarawak. The Kayan tribe built their longhouses in the northern interiors

of Sarawak midway on the Baram River, the upper Rejang River and the lower Tubau River, and were traditionally

headhunters. They are well known for their boat making skills, which they carve from a single block of belian, the

strongest of the tropical hardwoods.

Although many Kayan have become Christians, some still practise paganistic beliefs, but these are very rare

today[citation needed].

Lun Bawang

The Lun Bawang are indigenous to the highlands of East Kalimantan, Brunei (Temburong District), southwest of

Sabah (Interior Division) and northern region of Sarawak (Limbang Division).Lun Bawang people are traditionally

agriculturalists and practise animal husbandry such as rearing poultry, pigs and buffaloes. Lun Bawangs are also

known to be hunters and fishermen.

Kelabit

With a population of approximately 3000, the Kelabit are inhabitants of Bario - a remote plateau in the Sarawak

Highlands, slightly over 1,200 meters above sea level. The Kelabits form a tight-knit community and practise a

generations-old form of agriculture. Famous for their rice-farming, they also cultivate a variety of other crops which

are suited to the cooler climate of the Highlands of Bario. The Kelabits are closely related to the Lun Bawang.

The Kelabit are predominantly Christian, the Bario Highlands having been visited by Christian missionaries many

years ago.

Kenyah

With the population about ~22,000, the Kenyah are inhabitant of Upper Belaga and upper Baram. There are few

findings on the exact origin of the Kenyah tribe. Their heartland however, is Long San, along the Baram River and

Belaga along Rajang River. Their culture is very similar to that of the Kayan tribe with whom they live in close

association. The typical Kenyah village consists of only one longhouse and the people are mainly farmers, planting

rice in burnt jungle clearings. With the rapid economic development, especially in timber industry, many of them work

in timber camps.

Penan

The Penan are the only true nomadic people in Sarawak and are amongst the last of the world's hunter-gatherers.

[2] The Penan make their home under the rainforest canopy, deep within the vast expanse of Sarawak's virgin jungle.

Even today, the Penan continue to roam the rainforest hunting wild boar and deer with blowpipes. The Penan are

skilled weavers and make high-quality rattan baskets and mats. The traditional Penan religion worships a supreme

god called Bungan. However, the increasing number who have abandoned the nomadic lifestyle for settlement in

longhouses have converted to Christianity.

Sebob/Chebob

One of the least known tribes in Sarawak and be found in upper Tinjar river. Sebob are the first Tinjar settlers along

the Tinjar river and it is said that the other tribes came later(migrated) The sebob/chebob tribes occupies up to 6 six

longhouse in Tinjar namely; Long Loyang, Long Batan, Long Selapun, Long Pejawai,and Long Subeng.(All these

names come from small stream where they lived) Amongst the longhouses, Long Luyang is the longest and most

populated Sebob/Chebob settlement.It comprises almost 100 units. Most of these people have migrated and found

work in the cities.

MelanauFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  (Redirected from Melanaus)

Melanau

Total population 500,000

Regions with significant populations Mukah,Sarawak

Language Melanau &Malay

Religion Islam &Christianity

The Melanau are a people who live on the island of Borneo, primarily in Sarawak,Malaysia, but also

in Kalimantan, Indonesia. They are among the earliest settlers of Sarawak, and speak a Northwest Malayo-

Polynesian language (see Melanau language).

[edit]Origins

The Melanau were in the 19th Century, settled in scattered communities along the main tributaries of the Rajang

River in Central Sarawak. Melanau or problematic Kajang [1] speaking tribes such as the Sekapan, the Rajang, the

Tanjung and the Kanowits gradually moved and assimilated into Dayak migrations settling in the Rajang. The

Punan [2] (or Punan Bah) today are closely linked to the last riverine dwelling Melanau communities previously

inhabiting the middle and upper Rejang tributaries. The Kajang language is kept relatively alive by the isolated

Sekapan communities Kapit division of Sarawak.

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.[citation needed]

Eda Green, writing in 1909, referred to "...the Milanaus, whose girls are as fair as any Europeans and the belles of

Borneo."[1]

[edit]Divisions

The Melanaus can be divided into six different groups which are: Melanau Mukah, Melanau Dalat, Melanau Oya,

Melanau Matu-DaroMelanau [Belawai-Rejang-Gelijih], 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.[2]

There is one group that have been missed out, they are the Melanau Igan. They live in kampungs (example :

Kampung Skrang, Kampung Tengah,Kampung Hilir etc) near the river that borders the Mukah - (Matu-Daro) district.

The main languages are Melanau, some speaks Malays. This group of Melanau are almost 100% Muslim. The

Muslim side have adopt a culture that are similar of those of Malays culture and the rest remain with the Melanau

culture(Christianity, Pagan). Basically the original people of Igan were Malays who settled in the area. However their

mixed intermarriages with the Melanaus and today have instead produced a new generation who considered

themselves Melanaus.

Similar to the Igan Melanaus ancestral beginnings, many Melanaus who had migrated to different areas in Sarawak

experienced the same transformation. A group of Matu Melanaus settled in Bintawa Area in Kuching after World War

2. However their offspring are mostly Melanaus by blood but cannot speak the language. They are considered as

Malays. However as a point of interest, the new secondary school built in Bintawa Kuching in 2007 is named SMK

Matu Baru. Many areas in Kuching notably Petra Jaya, Lundu and Santubong do have a significant Melanau

population. Miri the oil town, Bintulu the gas town, Sibu the riverine town are also places where there is a significant

Melanau population. However the 'Bin' and 'Binti' factors in their names had confused the census workers (read the

following paragraph). There are some cases whereby the 'Bin' and 'Binti' are used by the Likou and Christians. One

of the reason the Muslim Melanau migrated to Malay is during the registration of birth of the new born, they will

automatically consider as Malay if the parent didn't inform the registertion officer.

[edit]Culture & economy

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 (2007) they live in kampung (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.

It is one of the rare ethnic groups in Malaysia which hardly grows or increases in its population. This is because the

Muslim Melanaus that have migrated to bigger towns in Sarawak have "automatically" become Malays especially

during the National Census Operation as their names (and many times the language the elders use with their children

at homes) are inseparable from the Sarawak local Malays. This has helped the Malay population of Sarawak to have

significantly increased in the census.

All the Melanaus have a 'Bin' (son of) and 'Binti' (daughter of) in their names similar to the Malays and it is also likely

that the Christian Melanaus too were designated as Malays in the census.

The current population statistics showed the Melanaus at about 96,000(?). However amongst the Bumiputeras or

ethnic groups in Sarawak, Malaysia, the Melanaus has the highest population growth the last 5 years. The continuous

'cross-breeding' through inter-marriages between the Melanaus and other races in Malaysia has also caused the

mysterious disappearance of the Melanau identity. Data from some private research estimated that the actual

population of Melanaus is more than 500,000 people.

Being migrants in the early days, Melanaus are found almost everywhere in Sarawak. Sadly though their children

knew their roots, they cannot speak or even understand their grandparents dialects but registered themselves as

other races, mostly as Malays. The more extreme cases are parents, both Melanaus, speak to their children in Malay

or English. This happens in the towns and cities in Sarawak. There has been little efforts done to preserve the

Melanau dialects and teach the current Melanau generation continuous usage of their own dialects. Melanau Rajang

is one of the most low population among all Melanaus and can be hardly found around Sarawak. They settled at

Sungai Rajang, Kanowit.

The gradual disappearance of the Melanau cultures and dialects is further intensified when it is noted that there is not

even a Melanau staff member handling the documentation on the Melanaus cultures and history in the 'Majlis Adat

Istiadat' department in Sarawak. This department is involved in the preservation and documentation of the cultures

and histories of the various ethnic groups in Sarawak. The Melanaus are slowly being emulsified into other cultures.

The Melanau Kaul festival will only serve as a reminder of the Melanau Pagan ritual.

[edit]Religion

While originally animists, the majority of the Melanaus are now Muslim, although some of them, especially among the

Melanau Mukah, Rajang 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.

PenanFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Penan are a nomadic aboriginal people living in Sarawak and Brunei. They are one of the last such peoples

remaining.[1] The Penan are noted for their practice of 'molong' which means never taking more than necessary. Most

Penan were nomadic hunter-gatherers until the post-World War II missionaries settled many of the Penan, mainly in

the Ulu-Baram district but also in the Limbang district. They eat plants, which are also used as medicines, and

animals and use the hides, skin, fur, and other parts for clothing and shelter.

[edit]Demographics

The Penan number around 10,000; only 200 are nomadic[2] The Penan can be broken down into two loosely related

geographical groups known as either Eastern Penan or Western Penan, the Eastern Penan residing around the Miri,

Baram, Limbang and Tutoh regions and the Western Penan in and around Belaga district.[3]

They can be considered as a native group or 'tribe' in their own right, with a language distinct from other neighbouring

native groups such as the Kenyah, Kayan, Murut or Kelabit. However, in government censuses they are more broadly

classified as Orang Ulu which translates as 'Upriver People' and which contains distinct neighbouring groups such as

those above. Even more broadly they are included in the term 'Dayak', which includes all of Sarawak's indigenous

people.

[edit]Lifestyle

Penan communities were predominantly nomadic up until the 1950s. The period from 1950-present has seen

consistent programmes by the state government and foreign Christian missionaries to settle Penan into longhouse-

based villages similar to those of Sarawak's other indigenous groups.[4]

Some, typically the younger generations, now cultivate rice and garden vegetables but many rely on their diets

of sago (starch from thesago palm), jungle fruits and their prey which usually include wild boar, barking deer, mouse

deer but also snakes (especially theReticulated Python or kermanen), monkeys, birds, frogs, monitor lizards, snails

and even insects such as locusts. Since they practice 'molong', they pose little strain on the forest: they rely on it and

it supplies them with all they need. They are outstanding hunters and catch their prey using a 'lepud' or blowpipe,

made from the Bilian Tree (superb timber) and carved out with unbelievable accuracy using a bone drill - the wood is

not split, as it is elsewhere, so the bore has to be precise almost to the millimetre, even over a distance of 3 metres.

The darts are made from the sago palm and tipped with poisonous latex of a tree found in the forest which can kill a

human in a matter of minutes. Everything that is caught is shared as the Penan have a highly tolerant, generous

and egalitarian society, so much so that it is said that the nomadic Penan have no word for 'thank you' because help

is assumed and therefore doesn't require a 'thank you'. However, 'jian kinin' is typically used in the settled

communities.

Very few Penan live in Brunei any more, and their way of life is changing due to pressures that encourage them to

live in permanent settlements and adopt year-around farming.[5]

[edit]Penan resistance to deforestation in Sarawak

The Penan came to national and international attention when they resisted logging operations in their home territories

of the Baram, Limbang, Tutoh and Lawas regions of Sarawak. Since both the settled, semi-nomadic and nomadic

Penan communities were and are reliant on forest produce, they were hit hard by the large scale logging operations

that encroached on their traditionally inhabited territories. The logging caused the pollution of their water catchment

areas with sediment displacement, the loss of many sago palms that form the staple carbohydrate of Penan diet,

scarcity of wild boar, deer and other game, scarcity of fruit trees and plants used for traditional forest medicine,

destruction of their burial sites and loss of rattan and other forest products. Beginning in the late 1980s and

continuing today the Penan and other indigenous communities such as the Iban, Kelabit and Kayan (collectively

referred to as Dayak) have set up blockades in an attempt to halt logging operations on their land. These succeeded

in many areas but the efforts were hard to sustain and ended in large scale clashes between the indigenous

communities and the state backed logging companies, supported by the police and Malaysian army. The

confrontations ended with several deaths, many injuries and large scale arrests of indigenous people. Many of the

detained reported being beaten and humiliated while in custody. An independent Sarawakian organisation IDEAL

documented such claims in a 2001 fact finding mission entitled "Not Development, but Theft".[6]

The Penan explicitly outlined their wants and requirements to the Sarawak State Government of Abdul Taib

Mahmud in the 2002 Long Sayan Declaration.[7] The confrontation between the Penan and Sarawak State

Government has continued to the present day. Most recently the blockade setup by the Penan community of Long

Benali was forcefully dismantled on 4 April 2007 by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), with support from a

special police force unit and overlooked by Samling Corporation employees. Samling Corporation had been granted a

logging concession by the Malaysian Timber Certificate Council (MTCC) that included land traditionally inhabited by

the Penan of Long Benali and despite their continued petitions against the concession.[8]

[edit]Bruno Manser

Bruno Manser was an environmental activist and champion of the Penan's plight during their struggle in the 1990s.

Named lakei Penan(Penan man) by the Penan, he helped communicate the Penan's cause to the outside world,

firstly writing letters to Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and later leaving Sarawak to educate the outside world

(especially timber importing countries in Europe and Japan) about the deforestation and related social problems in

Sarawak. He later conducted public awareness stunts such as paragliding onto the lawn of Chief Minister Abdul Taib

Mahmud and attempting a hunger strike outside the offices of Japanese shipping companies in Tokyo.

In 2000, Manser went missing when he secretly returned to Sarawak to reunite with a Penan group, his body and

belongings have never been found despite intensive searches. Theories of assassination by the Sarawak

government or logging companies have sprung up (due to a reputed US$40,000 bounty on his head). Other rumors

include those of suicide after years of unsuccessful campaigning or getting lost in the dense mossy forests

around Bukit Batu Lawi in the Kelabit Highlands, close to the border with Kalimantan. However, Manser had lived for

several years in the region with the nomadic Penan and was thus highly experienced.

[edit]Logging today

Logging continues to dominate politics and economics in Sarawak and the government's ambition on timber from

proposed Penan ancestral land also continues. Malaysia’s rate of deforestation is the highest in the tropical world

(142 km²/year) losing 14,860 square kilometres since 1990. The Borneo lowland rain forest, which is the primary

habitat of the Penan, but also has the most valuable trees, has all but gone.

'Despite the (Malaysian) government's pro-environment overtones, the… government tends to side with development

more than conservation.' Rhett A. Butler

The government's defence of large scale logging as a means to economic development has also been challenged as

unsustainable, indiscriminate of indigenous rights, environmentally destructive and marred in invested interests,

corruption and cronyism.[9] Prominent examples of this have been highlighted by the fact that the Ex Minister for

Environment and Tourism Datuk James Wong was also one of the state's largest logging concessionaires. Most

recently, the Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud himself is under investigation by Japanese Tax Authorities for

corruption over RM32 Million in timber kickbacks allegedly paid to his family company in Hong Kong in order to

lubricate timber shipments.[10] Such allegations are not new, as Malaysia Today claimed in 2005:

There is often a mutually beneficial relationship between logging companies and political elites, involving the

acquisition of large private wealth for both parties through bribery, corruption and transfer pricing, at the expense of

public benefit through lost revenues and royalty payments and at the expense of social, environmental and

indigenous communities' rights...The awarding of concessions and other licences to log as a result of political

patronage, rather than open competitive tender, has been the norm rather than the exception in many countries. [11]

[edit]The future of the Penan

The future of the Penan has been a controversial subject since the confrontation between indigenous rights and state

land use began. National and International Non-Governmental Organisations have been pressing for indigenous self-

determination and respect for Penan human and land rights in accordance with UN International Labour Organisation

Convention N. 169 (1989) that removes “assimilationist” orientated international standards towards indigenous rights,

[12] a convention that Malaysia has not adopted. However, many Malaysian politicians have criticised NGOs for

meddling in Malaysian domestic affairs and have accused them of attempting to inhibit development projects and

keep the Penan 'undeveloped' and unassimilated into mainstream Malaysian society. Most see the Penan's lifestyle

as uncivilised and antiquated (compare White man's burden), an example of this is a regularly recited poem by ex

Minister for Environment and Tourism Datuk James Wong.[13]

"O Penan - Jungle wanderers of the Tree

What would the future hold for thee?....

Perhaps to us you may appear deprived and poor

But can Civilization offer anything better?....

And yet could Society in good conscience

View your plight with detached indifference

Especially now we are an independent Nation

Yet not lift a helping hand to our fellow brethren?

Instead allow him to subsist in Blowpipes and clothed in Chawats [loincloths]

An anthropological curiosity of Nature and Art?

Alas, ultimately your fate is your own decision

Remain as you are - or cross the Rubicon!"

Many Malaysian organisations have joined the debate such as Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), Borneo Resource

Institute (BRIMAS)and Rengah Sarawak. These grassroots organisations have supported indigenous rights and

accused the Sarawak state government of repeated neglect of Sarwak's indigenous citizens and exploitation of

Sarawak's natural resources. The opposition party Parti Keadilan Rakyat has also taken up the cause of the

indigenous people's plight, claiming that they are "living lives of quiet desperation that now and then flares up in

action that invites police attention, not to mention the notice of the rest of Malaysians who don't quite know what it is

to be under the tyranny of geography."[14] With the help of such NGOs many Penan communities have mapped their

proposed ancestral lands and filed claims in Sarawak's courts in the hope of preventing and deterring illegal logging

of their forests. An important precedent was set in 2001 when an Iban village of Rumah Nor won a landmark court

victory against Borneo Pulp and Paper and the Sarawak Government for violating their Native Customary Right

(NCR) or adat. The victory was recently publicised in a short documentary - Rumah Nor - by the Borneo Project. The

verdict is being threatened by a Federal Court appeal by the State Government and Borneo Pulp and Paper.

However, 19 Penan communities have now mapped their NCR and four are beginning litigation and in others the

logging has more or less stopped in the territory where litigation is pending. Indigenous action has therefore shifted

from the human blockades of logging roads to empowerment through the political and legal system and international

publicity.

[edit]Penan language

The Penan language belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family. It forms an own

Group within the Borneo branch of the Borneo-Philippines languages. It may be somewhat related to

the Kenyah Languages and might show some evidence of a non Austronesian substrat that might be related to Orang

Asli type of language.[15] The Penan language is linguisticallyinteresting since it has six words for varying levels of

"we" depending on how extensive the described group in the society is at the same time as having no word to say

"thank you" or describe the status of a domestic animal. This provides a good example in discussion of thesubject-

object problem in philosophy and its relation to language and power.

Kenyah peopleFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kenyah people

Total population 45,000

Regions with significant

populations

Belaga, Bintulu, Miri, Sarawak,Malaysia and East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Language Kenyah

Religion Christianity & Bungan

The Kenyah people are an indigenous, Austronesian-speaking people of Borneo, living in the remote Baram (Lio

Mato, Long Selaan, Long Moh, Long Mekaba, Long Jeeh, Long Belaong, Long San, Long Silat, Long Tungan and

etc), Data Kakus, Data Surau,Sg. Senep, Long Dungan, Long Busang, Long Beyak, Bintulu, Miri, Sungai ASAP, Long

Bulan, Long Jawe and Belaga regions in Sarawak, Malaysia and the remote Apau Kayan, Bahau (Bau), Benua Lama

& Baru and Mahakam regions in East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Kenyah people are divided into various tribes including the Uma Bakah, Lepo Anan, Lepo Tau, Lepu Jalan, Lepo'

Tepu, Uma Kelap, Badeng (Jamok, Lepo Aga'), Bakung, Kayan, Penan, Lepu Kulit, Uma Alim, Uma Timai, Uma

Lasan, Lepo Ma-ot, Sambop, Lepo Ke', Lepo Ngao, Ngurek, Kiput, Long Ulai, Long Tikan, Long Sabatu, Lepo Ga,

Lepo Dikan, and Lepo Pua

[edit]Culture and economy

The Kenyah people, traditionally being swidden agriculturalists and living in long houses (uma dado'), is an umbrella

term for over 40 sub-groups that mostly share common migration histories, customs and related dialects. Kenyah

people lived in long houses in a small communities. Each long house consists of families who choose their own

leader (headman). When they have any event or celebration such as harvest festival they will normally use the long

house verandah (oseh bi'o) to gather and deliver speeches to guide their youngsters. Normally this harvest festival

celebration (tau bio Ramay o o Ajau, pelepek uman) is a major festival because most of them are still farmers.

[edit]Religion

Almost all Kenyah people are Christian. Before they became Christian they believed in 'Bungan Malan Peselong

Luan' (a traditional form ofanimism). But now there are only a small number of Kenyah people that still believe in

Bungan. When they die they believe they go to Alo Malau (heaven) with their ancestors (tepun).

[edit]Population

Statistical figures, based on the Indonesian and Malaysian national censuses collected in 2000, recorded a total of

44,350 Kenyah people in East Kalimantan and 24,906 in Sarawak.[1]

[edit]Origins

The Usun Apau (aka Usun Apo) plateau(in the Peliran river valley) or Apo Kayan Highlands (a remote forested

plateau in Malaysian and Indonesian border) in the present-day Indonesian province of East Kalimantan was the

largest concentration site of Kenyah populations between the late 19th century to the early 1980s.

[edit]Languages

The Kenyah languages are a small family of Austronesian languages.

UkitFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Ukit is a tribe found in Sarawak, Borneo. They are a small minority people who until recently were nomads in the

rain forests of Borneo. Some were settled at Rumah Ukit on the upper reaches of the Batang Balui or Balui River.

Most of the Ukits are found in the Upper Rajom and Tatau rivers, Baleh, Sarawak. Ukit's population is small in

numbers and suffer potential extinction due to many of the tribesmen being killed a long time ago. Heavy losses in

war to stronger Dayak tribes in Borneo (Iban, Kayan & others) resulted them being chased out of their homelands

(believed to be the Saribas, Kalaka and Krian areas). Intermarriages with other tribes is also another factor for their

decreasing population. Today, the Ukit population is estimated to be only about 120. However there may still be an

unknown number of Ukit living in their traditional way as forest nomads.

SelakoFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Selako is a branch of Dayak people from the Borneo island. The are found in the western most part of

the Borneo island. They are related to the Bidayuh tribe. Most Selakos are settled in areas such

as Lundu, Sematan, Bengkayang and Sambas. Their language is part of theMalayo Polynesian group and they are

categorized as Malayic Dayak. Many Selakos are Christians, having converted to Anglicanism andRoman

Catholicism following missionary work in the 19th century.

PunanFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An elderly Punan man performing Bungan rites. Photo taken at Punan Sama

Total population approx. 5,000 inSarawak

Office website Punan.Info

Region  Malaysia

SarawakKapit and BintuluDivision

Language Punan Bah-Biau

Religion Christianity & Animist

Related Ethnic Groups Sekapan, Kejaman, Lahanan'

Punan Bah or Punan[1] is an ethnic group found in Sarawak, Malaysia. They are distinct, unrelated to the Penan and

also the other so called Punan found in Kalimantan the Indonesian part of Borneo. Their name stems from two rivers

along the banks of which they have been living time immemorial. They do have other names - Mikuang

Bungulan orMikuang and Aveang Buan. But these terms are only used ritually these days.

The Punan (or Punan Bah) have never been nomad. In the old days they base their living on a mixed economy.

Swidden agriculture with hill paddy as the main crop, supplemented by a range of tropical plants which include

maniok, taro, sugar cane, tobacco, etc. Hunting especially wild boar, fishing, and gathering of forest resources are the

other important factors in their economy.

However, in the late 1980s many Punan, notably the younger, more educated, gradually migrating to urban areas

such as Bintulu, Sibu, Kuching and Kuala Lumpur in search of better living. However, they didn't abandon their

longhouses altogether. Many would still return home - especially during major festivities such as Harvest Festival / or

Bungan festival as it is known among Punan.

Punan is a stratified society of 'laja' (aristocrats), 'panyen' (commoners), and 'lipen' (slaves). This is a fact determine

their historical traditions that have been preserved. Just like most of the history of European Middle Ages is linked to

and mainly concerned the various ruling monarchs, so are the historical and mythical traditions of Punan closely

connected to their rulings aristocrats.

[edit]Relation to the "other" Punans

Are all Punan related tribes/ethnic? There is this popular misunderstanding that all the so called Punan on the

island of Borneo are related and referring to the same tribe.InSarawak, for example, there is the confusion between

Punan and Penan. On the other hand, throughout the island of Borneo, the term Punan often indiscrimately used

referring to the then (unknown or yet to be classified) tribes as such as Punan Busang, Penihing, Sajau Hovongan,

Uheng Kareho, Merah, Aput, Tubu, Bukat, Ukit, Habongkot, Penyawung as Punan. Sadly this colonial heritage stick

until today.

As a result, there are now more than 20 different tribes / ethnics (unrelated to one another) found on the island

of Borneo - still being called Punan. These tribes include;

Punan Busang

Punan Penihing

Punan Batu

Punan Sajau

Punan Hovongan di Kapuas Hulu, Kalbar

Punan Uheng Kereho di Kapuas Hulu, Kalbar

Punan Murung di Murung Raya, Kalteng

Punan Aoheng (Suku Dayak Pnihing) di Kalimantan Timur

Punan Merah (Siau)

Punan Aput

Punan Merap

Punan Tubu

Punan Ukit/Bukitan

Dayak Bukat

Punan Habongkot

Punan Panyawung

These so called Punans are not related to the Punan or Punan Bah as being described in this page.

[edit]Ethnic classification

Officially, as under the Sarawak Interpretation Ordinance [2], Punan is group under Kajang together with Sekapan,

Kejaman, Lahanan and Sihan.

Unofficially, they are also included in the politically coined term Orang Ulu - popularized by a political association

known as Orang Ulu National Association or (OUNA). The association is a Kayan and Kenyah dominated association

which they established in 1969.

[edit]Punan longhouses

Where are the Punan to found? Punan are mostly found around Bintulu, Sarawak. Punan peoples can only be

found at Pandan, Jelalong and Kakus in Bintulu Division; along the Rajang River, their longhouses dotted areas

spanning from Merit District to lower Belagatown.

The Punan are believed to be one of the earliest peoples to have settled in the central part of Borneo, the Rajang

River and Balui areas together with the Sekapan, Kejaman and Lahanan. However the mass migrations of Kayans,

subsequently followed by the warfaring Ibansinto Rejang and Balui areas approximately some 200 years ago, forcing

the Punan communities living in these areas retreating to Kakusand subsequently to Kemena basin.

As in 2006, there were more than 10 Punan settlements (longhouses) found along the Rejang, Kakus, Kemena and

Jelalong river. These settlements (longhouses) are:

Punan Lovuk Sama ,

Punan Lovuk Ba [3],

Punan Lovuk Biau,

Punan Lovuk Meluyou,

Punan Lovuk Lirung Belang (name by Rumah Bilong before and now as known as Rumah Ado)

Punan Lovuk Mina,

Punan Lovuk Pedan (also Rumah Nyipa Tingang), and

Punan Lo'o Buong (Jelalong also known as Rumah Adi).

Total Punan population is estimated to be around 3000 - 5000 people.

[edit]Language

Punan speak a language categorized as Punan Bah-Biau, a sub Rajang-Sajau language. Although often confused for

the Penan, Punan language is actually closer to the language spoken by the Sekapans and Kejamans but not the

Penan.

Here some word spoken in Punan:

1. Nu denge? - How are you?

2. Nu ngaro no? - What is your name?

3. Piro umun no? - How old are you?

4. Tupu koman si - Do you have your lunch/diner/breakfast?

[edit]Religion & Beliefs

Punan traditional religion was a form of animist known as "Besavik". The Brooke era saw the arrival

of Christian missionaries, bringing education and modern medicine into Sarawak. But the Punan communities remain

with their traditional religion of Besavik and subsequently adopting a cult religion - Bungan brought by Jok Apui, a

Kenyah from Kalimantan.

However, the late 1990s showed an increase in the number of Punan converting to Christianity. This is partly due to

more and more Punan becoming educated and modernized. As of 2006 almost half of Punan are now Christian,

leaving only the elderly, less educated still remain observing "Bungan" religion.

The Punan have a unique burial custom. In the early days they did not bury their aristocrats or lajar. Instead they built

a pole known askelirieng of 50-meter height to lay down their beloved leaders. In Sarawak it is estimated that there

are fewer than 30 kelirieng left standing. The Punan still practice secondary burial ceremony, whereby the dead body

is kept at their longhouse for at least 3–7 days. This is partly to give more time for far away relatives to give their last

respect to the deceased.

BidayuhFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bidayuh

Bidayuh

Total population 158,700 (Sarawak only)

Regions with significant

populations

Sarawak & West Kalimantan

Dialects Bukar-Sadong, Singai-Jagoi,Biatah(Siburan, Padawan & Bia'),Bra'ang-Pinyawa, Sepug-Emperoh & Gumbang

Religion Christianity & Animist

Related Ethnic Groups

Bekati', Binyadu, Jongkang, Ribun, Salako, Lara, Sanggau, Sara', Tringgus, Semandang & Ahé.

Bidayuh is the collective name for several indigenous groups found in southern Sarawak, on the island of Borneo,

that are broadly similar in language and culture (see also Issues below). The name "Bidayuh" means 'inhabitants of

land'. Originally from the western part of Borneo, the collective name Land Dayaks was first used during the period

of RajahJames Brooke, the White Rajah of Sarawak. They constitute one of the main indigenous groups in Sarawak

and live in towns and villages around Kuching and Samarahan in theMalaysian state of Sarawak. Related groups are

also found in the Indonesian province ofWest Kalimantan. In Sarawak, most of Bidayuh population are found within

40 km of the geographical area known as Greater Kuching, within the Kuching and Samarahan division. They are the

second largest Dayak ethnic group in Sarawak after the Iban.

Contents

 [hide]

1     Location   

2     Language   

3     Language issues   

4     Religion & beliefs   

5     Salako & Lara people issues   

6     Musical heritage   

7     References   

o 7.1      Footnotes   

o 7.2      Notations   

8     External links   

[edit]Location

Predominantly Bidayuh areas are: Lundu, Bau, Penrissen, Padawan, Siburan and Serian. Most of the Bidayuh

villages can be found in the rural areas of Lundu, Bau, Padawan, Penrissen and Serian district. The area in which

they live is mainly in the basin of the Sarawak Riverand hilly to mountainous forest, traditionally worked by rotational

agriculture and hunting based around farms populated from parent villages situated on the hills for protection. Today,

almost all the traditional longhouse-villages have been replaced by individual houses, by roads and there is some

plantation agriculture and a reduced emphasis on the growing of hill-padi. Fruit trees, especially durian, remain

important property markers. The distinctive architectural and cultural feature of the Bidayuh is the headhouse, now

adopted as a symbol.

[edit]Language

In Sarawak there are generally said to be three main linguistic groupings (Biatah; Bau-Jagoi; Bukar-Sadong) but

these can be broken down even beyond the list referenced below as most people can be distinguished by locals

down to village level through smaller differences in vocabulary and intonation. Each area speak its own dialect:

1. Lundu speak Jagoi, Salako & Lara

2. Bratak, Singai, Krokong and Jagoi speak Singai-Jagoi

3. Penrissen speak Bisitang

4. Siburan vicinity speak Biatah

5. Bidayuhs who live around Serian such as Tebekang, Mongkos, Tebedu to Tanjung Amo near the border of

Kalimantan Indonesia speak Bukar-Sadong.

6. Bidayuhs in Padawan speak several but related dialects like Bi-anah, Pinyawa, Braang, Bia', Bisepug &

Emperoh/Bipuruh.

The dialects are not mutually intelligible and English or Malay are often used as common languages.

[edit]Language issues

The Serian Bidayuhs have a distinct dialect known as the Bukar-Sadong Bidayuh, which is not intelligible to Bidayuhs

from other Districts. Here are some examples of the differences in the various dialects spoken in Serian, with their

English and Malay equivalents. Also included are two Philippine languages, Kapampangan and Tagalog:

English MalayBukar-Sadong

Bau-Jagoi

Siburan-

Padawan

Bra'ang-

Pinyawa

Lundu (Salako)

Kapampangan

Tagalog

Father Bapa Amang Sama Sama Sama'Apak, Bapak

Ibpâ, (Bapa - Uncle)

Amang, Ama

Mother Ibu Andĕ/ayang Sino Sinĕ Sin(d)oInuk, Indok, Umak

IndûInang, Ina

Food makanan pima-anpinguman

pimaanPinguman

Pamakanan

PamanganPagkain

Rice nasisongkoi/sungkoi

tubi tubi Tubi nasik nasi kanin

I aku aku oku Ěku aku aku aku/I-aku ako

You/thee

kamu/anda

amu/akammu-u/ingan

ku-u/kaam

(K)u'u/ ka'am

kauika (sing.)/ikayu (pl.)

ikaw

[edit]Religion & beliefs

Bidayuhs are traditionally animist, and vestiges of these beliefs still remain. The British colonial times (known as

the Brooke family era) saw the arrival of Christian missionaries, bringing education and modern medicine. The great

majority of Bidayuh are now Christians, majority of them being Roman Catholic.

Most Bidayuh villages have either a Roman Catholic or Anglican church or a mosque -- rarely more than one or the

village would tend to split. The Biatah people, who live in the Kuching area, are Anglican, while the people of the Bau

area are Catholic.

The Bidayuh of Bau have a unique tradition of hanging the bodies of the dead on trees and leaving them to rot away.

The skeletons are left on trees as a reminder of the dead. The tradition is rarely done nowadays.

[edit]Salako & Lara people issues

Although classified as "Bidayuh" by the Malaysian government, the Salako and Lara culture have little resemblance

to other Bidayuh groups and their oral tradition claim different descent and migration histories. Linguistically, the

Salako belong to another language family tree which is of the Malayic-Dayak family (the same family as the Iban).

[1] The Lara, although said to be more related to the Bidayuh (Jagoi-Singai), speak a language almost not mutually

intelligible at all with the Bidayuh but belonged to the same language family tree which is the Land Dayak.[1] Even

their customary rituals and rites differ from the other Bidayuhs (all Bidayuhs share almost the same ritual and

customary rites).

[edit]Musical heritage

Main article: Agung

The Bidayuh have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agung ensembles - ensembles composed of large

hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed gongs which act as drone without any accompanying melodic

instrument.[2][3]

KelabitFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Kelabit, who have close ties to the Lun Bawang, are an indigenous people of the Sarawak highlands

in Borneo with a minority in the neighbouring state of Brunei. The elevation there is slightly over 1,200 meters.

Because there are few roads and the area is largely inaccessible by river because of rapids, the highlands and the

Kelabit are relatively untouched by modern western influences.

With a population of approximately 5,000 people, the Kelabit comprise one of the smallest ethnic groups in Sarawak.

Many have migrated to urban areas over the last 20 years and it is estimated that only 1,200 still live in their remote

homeland. There, tightly knit communities live in inherited longhouses and practice a generations-old form of

agriculture — they are cultivators of wet paddy, hill

rice, maize, tapioca,pineapple, pumpkin, cucumber, beans and fruit. Hunting and fishing is also practiced.

Domesticated buffalo are valued highly, seven of which are traditionally required for the dowry for an upper class

bride.

During the Second World War the Kelabit, like other natives of Borneo, were co-opted by the Allies into fighting the

Japanese. The English academic Tom Harrisson led the Semut I operations (one of four Semut operations in the

area), which parachuted into their midst in 1945 to make contact; they were supplied weapons by the Australian

military and played an essential role in the liberation of Borneo.

After the War this remote ethnic group received visits from Christian missionaries. The Kelabit are now predominantly

Christian. Prior to conversion they had a custom of erecting megaliths and digging ditches in honour of notable

individuals.

The Kelabit language, which belongs to the Borneo-Philippine branch of the Malayo-Polynesian languages, has

the ISO 639-3 codekzi.[1]

Lun BawangFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lun Bawang

Lun Bawang

Total population

c. 38100

Regions with significant populations

 Indonesia 25000 (1987 census) [1]

 Malaysia 12800 (1982 SIL) [1]

 Brunei 300 (1987 Langub) [1]

Languages

Lun Bawang; dialects include Trusan, Lun Daye, Papadi, Lun

Dayah, Adang, Tabun,Treng, Kolur, Padas, Trusan & Lepu Potong

Religion

Predominantly Christianity, minorities are Islamand animist

Related ethnic groups

Kelabit, Lengilu, Putoh, Sa'ban & Tring

The Lun Bawang is an ethnic group found in Central Borneo. They are indigenous to the highlands of East

Kalimantan, Brunei (Temburong District), southwest of Sabah (Interior Division) and northern region

of Sarawak (Limbang Division). In the Malaysian state of Sarawak, the Lun Bawang are categorised under the Orang

Ulu people; whilst in the neighbouring state of Sabah and Krayan valley in Kalimantan, they are more commonly

known as Lundayeh or Lun Daye. At a regional level, the Lun Bawang people identified themselves using various

names, for example Lun Lod, Lun Baa' and Lun Tana Luun.

Lun Bawang people are traditionally agriculturalists and practise animal husbandry such as

rearing poultry, pigs and buffaloes. Lun Bawangs are also known to be hunters and fishermen.

[edit]Etymology

The word Lun Bawang means people of the country, whilst Lun Dayeh means upriver people or people of the

interior and Lun Lod meanspeople living downriver or near the sea. Other names are derived from geographical

reference to their rice cultivation, for example Lun Baa' (swamps) who lives near swampy areas and grow wet rice,

and Lun Tana' Luun (on the land) who cultivates dry rice.

While insisting that they never called themselves Murut, the Lun Bawangs were formerly identified as Murut by

the British colonists and by outsiders (other ethnic group).[2] In Lun Bawang language, the word Murut either means

'to massage' or 'to give dowry', and these meanings have little or no relation at all to the identity of the people [3]. The

name Murut might have been derived from the word "Murud", a mountain located near an old Lun Bawang

settlement, hence might have just meant 'mountain men' or 'hill people' but was instead used by the colonist to

identify this ethnic.

In addition to that, ethnologist found that the classification under the name Murut is confusing as the term is used

differently in Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei, that is whilst in Brunei and Sarawak it is used to describe the Lun Bawang

people, in Sabah it is used to identify an ethnic group that is linguistically and culturally different from the Lun

Bawangs. [4] [5]

In Sarawak, the decision to replace the term 'Murut' to 'Lun Bawang' to identify this ethnic group was made

unanimously by Lun Bawang community leaders, and this decision was published in the Sarawak Gazette.[6][7] In the

early 1970s, the use of the term Lun Bawangbegan to gain popularity amongst ethnologist and linguist, and it is now

the most commonly used term to identify this ethnic group.

[edit]Origin

The Lun Bawangs made up of one of the ethnic natives that occupied the Borneo Island for centuries. According

to Tom Harrisson (1959) and S. Runciman (1960), the Lun Bawang Community is one of the earlier settlers in the

mountainous regions of central Borneo and they are related to the Kelabit tribe. It is said that their dialects have some

similarities as this may be due to the fact that the Kelabits are also another tribe from the mountainous regions of

central Borneo and the Lun Bawang dialect is of the Apo Duat lineage.

One theory suggests that the migration of the Lun Bawang people to the low lands and gradual spreading out is due

to various waves of migration of Lun Bawang people from different clans. The migration of Lun Bawang people from

one clan to a region already inhabited by another clan, causes the latter to move to another region, despite them

having similar culture and language. The strong clan identity of the Lun Bawang people is shown by their common

tradition of identifying themselves based on their village or geographical location, for example, 'Lun Adang' who once

resides the Adang river basin or 'Lun Kemaloh' who comes from the Kemaloh river.

Another theory suggests that the Kelabitic people were once natives of old Brunei, but were pushed upriver into the

highlands by the invading tribes such as Kayan, Kenyah and Iban people. The ones that remained downriver (Lun

Bawang people) were isolated from the ones who migrated to the highlands (Kelabit), causing their culture and

language to slightly diverged.

Sather (1972) however theorised that a similar occurrence happened in East Borneo (now East Kalimantan). The

Lundayeh people were once farmers in the lowlands downstream of Malinau river, living closely with

the Tidong people. However, attacks by Muslim raiders (Bugis and Tausug) probably in the 17th century, caused

them to migrate to the Kerayan highlands, whilst the Tidong people converted to Islam. [8]

Nevertheless, these theories have yet to be proven and there are no substantial evidence to trace the origin of the

Lun Bawang people or to prove any of these theories.

[edit]History

According to oral tradition, the Lun Bawangs (Murut) were brought under the rule of the Brunei kingdom by peaceful

measures during the reign of Awang Alak Betatar. This is said to be accomplished through dealings between the Lun

Bawang and Awang Alak Betatar's brother, Awang Jerambok.[9]

Under the rule of the Brunei kingdom, the Lun Bawang were subject to taxes and tribute. The local leaders from the

higher class (lun mebala or lun do') were apponted titles of nobility and were granted office in the sultanate. Some

Lun Bawang were assimilated into Malay culture.[10]

The earliest European written account of the Lun Bawang people is probably by Sir James Brooke in his journal

written on December 24, 1850, where he described the oppression that the Lun Bawang (then called Limbang

Muruts) people faced by Brunei aristocrats, and where some had fought against this tyranny. [11]

Earlier description of the Lun Bawang people by Europeans were normally brief. Since the beginning, the Europeans

had already called the Lun Bawang by the exonym Murut. For example, in Captain Bethune's Notes on

Borneo (1846), he described

The Muruts - Hill tribes of interior of Brune; much oppressed by the Kayans; little known; use the sumpitan.

In James Brooke's (and Henry Keppel's) book The Expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido For the Suppression of

Piracy (1846), the Murut people were described as inhabitant of Borneo interior, and that the Murut and Dyak people

had given place to Kayan people whenever they are in contact with each other. [12]

A more elaborate European account of the Lun Bawang people is by Spenser St. John in 1860, where he described

the impoverished condition of the Lun Bawang (then called Limbang Muruts) people under the rule of the Brunei

Sultanate. He also gave account of the aborigines (Murut and Bisaya) rise to insurrection, however these rebellions

were always suppressed by threat by the Brunei government to bring in Kayans to subdue the opposition.[13]

Spenser St.John also described the tyranny conducted by the Brunei aristocrats upon the Limbang Muruts, which

include seizing their children to be sold as slaves if taxes were not paid, and on one occasion, when the Brunei

capital were in a state of alarm by the marauding Kayan warriors, the Brunei aristocrat offered a whole Limbang

Murut village to be pillaged, in return for the safety of the capital.[14]

[edit]Culture

The Lun Bawang and Lundayeh practice agriculture, and cultivate both rice on hill called lati' tana' luun and rice from

paddy field called lati' ba.[15][16] Traditionally, cooked rice is wrapped inside banana leaves and is called Nuba' Laya.

Meat and fish are brined or pickled using salt and is stored in hollow bamboo stalk for a duration of a month and the

pickled food is called telu' . Meat and fish are also preserved by smoking. Salt is obtained by evaporating brine from

salt spring (lubang mein).

Cattles and buffaloes are bred for their meat, and can serve as a symbol of financial status. These animals are

commonly used as dowrythat are presented to the bride's family from the groom's side.

In the old days, the men wear jackets made of tree barks called kuyu talun. Cloth wrapped around the forehead is

called sigar and loin cloth is called abpar. A long machete (pelepet) is tied to the waist, especially when it needs to be

carried to tribal wars. As for the women, they wear pata on their head, beret on their waist, bane around the neck

and gileng or pakel is worn as ornaments on their hands and wrists.

The Lun Bawang and Lundayeh belong to a group termed as Nulang Arc group (Metcalf 1975). These ethnic (along

with other ethnics such as the Berawans, the Melanaus and the Kajangs) traditionally practiced an ancient tradition of

secondary treatment of the dead. In Lun Bawang, this is called mitang butung. Metcalf theorised that this practice is a

characteristic of the most ancient cultural tradition in Borneo, before the arrival of other invading ethnics that

influenced the diversification of culture and language in Borneo.[17]

[edit]Language

Main article: Lun Bawang language

The Lun Bawangs called their language Buri Lun Bawang or Buri tau, ''our language'' .

[edit]Festivals and Celebration

Lun Bawang people celebrates Irau Aco Lun Bawang (Lun Bawang festival) annually on the first of June

in Lawas, Sarawak. This festival is traditionally a celebration of the rice harvest, but now it showcases a variety of Lun

Bawang culture and events such as Ruran Ulung(beauty pageant contest) and ngiup suling (bamboo musical

instrument band).

[edit]Religion

Lun Bawangs were mostly animist before the 1920s. Under the rule of the White Rajahs (Vyner Brooke) in Sarawak,

Christian missionaries especially of the Borneo Evangelical Mission denomination had more access to the Lun

Bawang highlands and they also preached Christianity to the Lun Bawang people.[18]

The majority of the Lun Bawangs are Christians, predominantly of the Borneo Evangelical Mission denomination. A

small number are of other Christian denominations, such as True Jesus Church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church,

the Roman Catholic Church, or of another religion, such as Islam and Buddhism.

BukitanFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bukitan

Total population 410

Regions with significant populations

Sarawak & East Kalimantan

Dialects Lugat

Religion Christianity & Animist

Related Ethnic Groups Ukit, Sian, Kejaman, Sekapan & Lahanan

Bukitan (also known as Baketan) is a small tribe living in the state of Sarawak, EastMalaysia. They are found

in Bintulu division. Not many of these people are left due to intermarriages with other tribes.

Their origin is from Palin, Kalimantan. They moved in to Sarawak via Lubok Antu and settled there for a few years

(legend has it was for about a few hundred years). Then, in came the marauding Ibans from Kapuas (in Kalimantan),

a powerful headhunting tribe at that time, attacking them and chasing them out of their homeland.

They fled to Saribas which is what is now in the Betong Division. There, they settled and built their community. During

those years, they co-existed with the Ibans, after a peace sealed by the marriage of the daughter of their

leader Entinggi to the son of the Iban chiefTindin. After many years, due to some misunderstandings, war broked out

with the Ibans and they lost. They again fled to various places before settling in Sg. Merit, Bintulu and its vicinity until

today.

Evidence of Bukitan existence can be found in areas such as the Saribas (Paku, Layar and Rimbas) and Lubok

Antu in the form of burial grounds, name of places & ancient orchards.

Kayan (Borneo)From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Kayan are an indigenous tribe from the island of Borneo. The Kayan people are categorized as a part of

the Dayak people of Borneo.

Being an indigenous tribe in central Borneo, Kayans are similar to their neighbors, the Kenyah tribe, with which they

are grouped together under the Bahau ethnic group.

The population of the Kayan ethnic group may be some 27,000.[1] They are part of a larger grouping of people

referred to collectively as the Orang Ulu, or upriver people. Like some other Dayak people they are known for being

fierce warriors, former headhunters, adept in dry-rice cultivation, and having extensive tattoos and stretched

earlobes amongst both sexes. They may have originated from along the Kayan river in the Indonesian part of Borneo.

They live along the upper Kayan and the middle Kapuas and Mahakam rivers. They seem to have expanded to the

south in Sarawak in historic times, generating some conflicts with the Iban that where expanding north at the same

time. They have settled in Sarawak on the middle Baram River, the Bintulu River and along the Rajang River, having

been pressed back a little during the late 19th century.

Their language belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.

Their basic culture is similar to the other Dayak people of Borneo. Traditionally they live in long houses on river

banks. Their agriculture was based upon shifting cultivation techniques and the cultivation of dryland rice. They also

cultivate sago, and go hunting and fishing. Their society knows aristocrats. They are known for good carvings and

metalwork.

Pulau pinang(penang)

Food

Penang Island is a paradise for food lovers who come from all over Malaysia and evenSingapore to sample the

island's unique cuisine, earning Penang the title of the food capital of Malaysia. Penang was recognised as having

the Best Street Food in Asia by TIME magazine in 2004, citing that nowhere else can such great tasting food be so

cheap. Penang's cuisine reflects the Chinese, Nyonya, Malay and Indian ethnic mix of Malaysia, but is also strongly

influenced by the cuisine of Thailand to the north. For example, Laksa and Hokkien Mee. It's especially famous

"hawker food", sold and eaten roadside, strongly features noodles and fresh seafood. Places to savour Penang's

food are Gurney Drive, Pulau Tikus, New Lane, Swatow Lane, Penang Road and Chulia Street. Local Chinese

restaurants serve excellent fare too.

Food of PenangMalays ia i s a coun t ry o f d i ve rse cu l tu res and in te res ts . There a re numerous g roups o f peop le , t r i bes and c lans se t t l ed i n d i f f e ren t pa r t s o f t he coun t ry . You cou ld know more abou t the va r ied cu l tu res and wha t be t te r way to know than by tas t i ng some g rea t l oca l cu i s ine .  

Food o f Penang re f l ec ts the ea t ing hab i t s o f t he mu l t i cu l tu ra l soc ie ty o f Penang . Mos t o f t hese cu is ines a re ava i l ab le a t road s ide s ta l l s and a re popu la r l y known as hawker food . Some o f the mos t fpopu la r fd i shes fa rekno ted jbe low.  

Penang Laska   i s a d i sh o f t h i ck round r i ce nood les i n a sp i cy and sour tamar ind -based f i sh soup .  Satay   i s a ve ry popu la r d i sh and i s the famous mea t -on -a -s t i ck . I t i s t yp i ca l l y made f rom mar ina ted mea t - ch i cken , mu t ton o r bee f , skewered on to bamboo s t i cks and g r i l l ed ove r ho t charcoa ls . There a re numerous Ch inese hawkers who ou tnumber Ma lay hawkers i n Penang p repare sa tay w i th po rk . A f resh sa lad o f cucumbers & on ions a re se rved toge the r w i th a sp i cy -swee t peanu t d ipp ing sauce fo r d ipp ing .  Ketupat , a Ma lay r i ce cake , i s somet imes se rved toge the r jw i thhsa tay .  

I kan Bakar   i s a popu la r d i sh tha t means g r i l l ed o r ba rbecued f i sh . I kan Bakar i s a popu la r f i sh l oca l f i sh fo r g r i l l i ng . The f i sh i s usua l l y mar ina ted in sp i ces , coconu t m i l k , somet imes s tu f fed w i th samba l , t hen wrapped in banana leaves and g r i l l ed ove r ho t charcoa ls .  Otak Otak   i s a d i sh made o f f resh f i sh f i l l e t s tha t a re b lended l i gh t sp i ces , coconu t m i l k , ka f f i r l ime leaves and o the r a romat i c he rbs , i n to a so r t o f f i sh mousse . The f i sh mousse i s wrapped in banana leaves and s teamed jo r j g r i l l ed .  

One can a l so come ac ross d i f f e ren t k inds o f sea food tha t a re se rved in severa l res tau ran ts i n Penang . Ch inese and Japanese food i s ex t reme ly popu la r he re . D im Sum i s a ve ry popu la r Can tonese d i sh tha t i s w ide ly ava i l ab le ac ross a l l res tau ran ts i n Penang .  

The food o f Penang i s i ndeed exo t i c , de l i c ious and i s su re to sa t i sy eve ry appe t i t e . To know more abou t Penang , Ma lays ia v i s i t T ravour .  

Johor

Cuisine

Dishes and cuisine in Johor are influenced by Arabs and the surrounding Malay archipelago. Some of the dishes are

a unique blend of ingredients not found anywhere else in Malaysia. Due to their difficult and sometimes complicated

recipes, some can only be sampled during celebrations and state banquets.

Laksa Johor is a cuisine originated from Johor. It differs from Laksa Penang by having coconut milk added

during cooking. It also differs from other laksas by using spaghetti instead of rice-based noodles.

Mee Bandung Muar is also a dish originated from Johor, specifically from Muar. The term 'bandung' is not

derived from Bandung,Indonesia but is a term for anything that is mixed from many ingredients. One of the most

important ingredient is dried shrimp.

Penganan Kacau keledek is a dessert normally reserved for the Johor monarch and elites. It is made from

sweet potatoes, a lot of eggs (at least 40), fresh coconut milk (not instant ones) and huge amounts of sugar. It is

mixed together and stirred on a simmering heat for at least 4 hours.

Mee rebus is the famous noodle dish which consists of Mee (a spaghetti like mixture of flour, salt and egg) and

is served with a tangy, spicy brown sauce. Usually crumbs and boiled eggs are added.

Arisa - A unique chicken dish that is very rare nowadays, and is normally served to the royalties and social elites

of Johor at formal functions and celebrations.

Sate

Satay - is a popular food in Malaysia. Made from marinated meat or chicken and burnt on charcoal grill. Cooked

satay is dipped in special peanut sauce. A favourite Malay food in Johor, mostly found in Johor Bahru and Muar.

Telur pindang - Eggs boiled together with herbs and spices, popular during wedding feasts in Johor.

Roti Jala or Roti Kirai(Wendy Li) - The name is derived from the Malay word 'roti' (bread) and 'jala' (net). A

special ladle with a five-hole perforation used to make the bread looks like a fish net (picture in the works). It is

usually eaten spicy with curry or sweet with 'serawa'. Serawa is made from a mixture of boiled coconut milk,

brown sugar and pandan leaf.

Nasi Beriani Gam - A biryani rice dish originating from India with a cooking method very similar to Hyderabad

biryani but with spices adjusted to suit the Malay palate. This dish is very popular in Batu Pahat District.

Ikan masak asam pedas - A

sour stew of fish (usually mackerel), tamarind, chili, tomatoes, okra and Vietnamese coriander (Malay:daun

kesum)

Kacang Pol- This dish is influenced by Arab Culture where special baked bread was served with special sauce

and a 'sunny side up' egg.

Pisang Salai or Gimpi smoked banana cooked into perfection

Otak-otak - Steamed/Grilled fish cake usually served wrapped in sticks of coconut leaves. Two of the most

popular varieties are Otak-otak Muar (spicy) and Otak-otak Gelang Patah (sweet).

Mee Soto[9] - This Indonesian origin food is very popular in Johor. People may have change noodles with rice or

vermicelli rice according to their preference. Combination of either noodle, rice or vermicelli rice is added with

peanut, beansprout and chicken meat. These combination then is poured with special soup. This soup was made

from chicken stock and some other spice. Enjoy it while its hot.

Mee Bakso - This is almost identical with soto, only this dish have meatball instead of slices of chicken meat.

Lontong - Dish using combination of pressed rice and special coconut soup with vegetables. Served with boiled

egg and chili.

Burasak - It is a type of Buginese food.

Halwa Maskat This dessert type food may be originated from muscat, Oman.

Kerutup ikan - Fish is steamed with variety of local fragrant leaves.

Pecal - It is a Javanese traditional cuisine which consists of long beans, slice of cucumber, beansprout, tauhu,

tempe mix with special peanut sauce.

Tauhu bakar- it is made from soybean where it is burnt on a grill and cut into cubes and dip with special sauce.

Pendaram

Mee Siput - It is a mixture of flour that will expand in term of size when deep fried.

Rojak Petis - It is a combination of local vegetables mix with special black colored sauce made mostly from

shrimp(Otak Udang).

ABC - ABC is abbreviation of 'Air Batu Campur' or known as Ice Kacang Johor. It is a special desserts created

from shaved ice added with corn, jelly, redbeans, groundnut, syrup, pasteurized milk, and liquid chocolate.

[edit]Javanese-influenced cuisine

There are a few Johorean dishes with Javanese influences. These include lontong, nasi

ambeng and bontrot or berkat - both traditionally served after feasts like wedding ceremonies, Yasinan and others;

and ungkep.[10]

The food of Johor is highly eclectic. The cuisine in Johor is influenced by the Arabs and the people l iving

in the surrounding Malaya archipelago. The food is delicious and is made from exotic herbs and spices.

Some of the dishes are made form ingredients that are not found in any other parts of Malaysia. The

tradit ional food of Johor is truly unique. There are different types of food in Johor.  

The Laksa Johor   is a tradit ional food of Johor. It is made with coconut milk. Then there is the  Mee

Bandung , another tradit ional dish.  Penganag Kacau keledek   is a dessert made from sweet potato and

eggs. is a noodle dish, which is extremely popular in the Johor. Arisa is a chicken preparation and

normally a food of the royalt ies. Toady, however, this dish is extremely rare.  Sate  is a favorite dish of

Malaysia, mainly found in Johor Bahru and Muar.  Telur Pindang   is a popular dish prepared during

weddings. It is made from eggs, rice and exotic spices.  

Another popular dish of Johor is  Roti Kirai  or Roti Jala . It is eaten with sweets, curry or

spices. Serawa  is a popular sweet of Johor. It is made with coconut milk, brown sugar and pandan leaf.

Besides these, there are many other tradit ional dishes also that one can try out in Johor l ike  Halwa

Maskat, Pecal, Mee Soto, Pendaram, Lontong, Nasi Briyani Gam, Nasi Ambeng, Otak-otak  and many

others. 

Apart from these, one can also find north and south Indian food as well as Chinese food in Johor. There

are numerous restaurants that offer cuisines of china and India in Johor.  The Restoran Kerala  offers

south Indian delicacies l ike  banana leaf rice . Other Indian dishes available in Johor include  Chicken

Biryani  and other spicey preparations.  

One can also find different kinds of seafood in the restaurants in Johor. Chinese and Japanese food is

extremely popular over here. Cantonese, Dim Sum and Chinese Hot Spot are some of the popular dishes

available over here.  

One can also find Italian food over here l ike  Spaghetti, Garden Salad, Garlic Prawns, Pizzas  and many

other popular dishes.  

Besides these there are other popular dishes that one can try out in Johor. These include Buttered

prawns, chilli squids, chilli / black pepper crabs  with deliciously plain rice and many other mouth

watering delicacies.  

There are numerous restaurants offering the different kinds of food of Johor. Some of the popular

restaurants include Lucky Food court, Menara landmark Food Court, RestaurantZ.Z., Vivo

restaurant, Seget Market  and others. 

The food of Johor is indeed exotic, delicious and fi l led with variety that wil l surely satisfy every palate.

langkawi

 Langkawi boasts of a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society and the multiculturalism is reflected in the

Food of Langkawi. Each community has their favorite recipe thus adding variety to the food of Langkawi.

The most popular cuisines of Langkawi are Malay, Chinese and Indian. Thai food is also very popular in

the region as Langkawi is situated in close proximity to the country of Thailand. Western influences can

be perceived in the food of the region and while traveling in Langkawi you wil l see many American fast

food outlets in shopping malls and complexes.  

The popular eating destinations of the region are Kuah Town, Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah, and Pantai

Kok. Kuah Town boasts of all the prerequisites to gratify your taste buds. Here you wil l f ind everything

from restaurants and cafes to fast food outlets and roadside food stalls.  

Pantai Cenang, Pantai Tengah and Pantai Kok are beach destinations and are popular among the

gourmets. These places boast of avant-garde restaurants, bars and pubs where you can have tradit ional

Malay food, Chinese food, Indian and Thai food. Apart from these the restaurants are also famous for

their varieties of sea foods.  

Besides the restaurants, Langkawi is also home to some of the international fast food chains along with

innumerable road side food stalls and food bazaars. Infact hawkers sell ing variety of foods, drinks and

fruits are a common sight in Langkawi.  

Kuala LumpurI f you a re a gourmet then Kua la Lumpur i s the r i gh t p lace fo r you . Boas t ing o f peop le o f d i f f e ren t commun i t y , coun t ry and re l i g ion , Kua la Lumpur i s a mu l t i -e thn ic and mu l t i - cu l tu ra l soc ie ty . The food o f Kua la Lumpur na tu ra l l y re f l ec ts the mu l t i cu l tu ra l i sm o f the soc ie ty . Here you w i l l f i nd t rad i t i ona l Ma lay food , Ch inese food , Ind ian food , Tha i f ood and many o the rs . There i s no dear th o f res tau ran ts and pubs in the c i t y where you can ava i l f oods tha t w i l l g ra t i f y your tas te buds .  

Ma lay food i s the mos t common ly ava i l ab le food in the c i t y . The Ma lay cu is ine has been heav i l y i n f l uenced by Ind ian , Ch inese , Tha i cu i s ine and the cu is ine o f M idd le Eas t . Ma lay food i s bas ica l l y sp i cy i n na tu re w i th a h in t o f swee tness . Herbs l i ke as l emon g rass , pandan leaves and w i ld g inger bus a re common ing red ien ts o f Ma lay d i shes . Ma lay de l i cac ies a l so make use o f bee f and f i sh f requen t l y .  

A long w i th the Ma lay food , Ch inese food i s a l so w ide ly ava i l ab le . You w i l l f i nd coun t less Ch inese d i shes in the res tau ran ts o f Kua la Lumpur . Ch inese cu is ine inc ludes numerous va r ia t i ons o f nood les and f requen t l y i nco rpora tes mea ts such as ven ison , f rogs , shark f i ns , and sna i l s and occas iona l l y l i za rds a re a l so used in Ch inese rec ipes . Ch inese food i s m i ld i n na tu re i n compar i son to the Ma lay food .  

There a re many Ind ians in the c i t y o f Kua la Lumpur and as a resu l t o f t h i s the re a re many Ind ian res tau ran ts i n the c i t y tha t p rov ides va r ie t i es o f I nd ian de l i cac ies to the Ind ians as we l l as the tou r i s t s o f t he c i t y . Cor iander , t u rmer i c , cumin and cu r ry a re common ing red ien ts o f I nd ian d i shes and ghee , yoghur t and ch i l i a re a l so used f requen t l y . I nd ian food can be bes t desc r ibed as e labora te , f rag ran t and ho t . Bes ides these you can a l so savor a r i ch va r ie t y o f sea foods in the c i t y . Mos t o f t he Ch inese res tau ran ts w i l l o f fe r you some avan t -ga rde sea food d i shes ; i n fac t you can tas te s teamboa t , wh ich i s one o f t he popu la r sea food d i shes ava i l ab le i n the c i t y . You can a l so ava i l a w ide va r ie t y o f Nyonya food in the c i t y .  

There i s no shor tage o f res tau ran ts , pubs and ba rs i n the c i t y p rov id ing you a spec t rum o f d i shes f rom a l l co rne rs o f t he wor ld . There a re a l so i n te rna t iona l f as t f ood cha ins and road s ide food s ta l l s i n te rspersed a l l ac ross the c i t y and o f fe r ing you l i p smack ing d i shes tha t w i l l sa t i s f y your tas te buds .  

Nasi Lemak

Nasi lemak is a must try! Nasi lemak, which means rice cooked in cream and in this case coconut cream, is traditionally a

breakfast dish. However, today it has also been added to the lunch and dinner menu. You can find it at the road side stall in

a cone shaped packet, or even at restaurants.

Nasi lemak is usually eaten with spicy sambal gravy, fried anchovies (ikan bilis), fried groundnuts, topped with fried or boiled

egg and slices of cucumber. The fragrant aroma of Pandan (screw pine) leaves makes it even more tempting. Add more

side dishes like fried chicken, squid or prawn sambal for a complete meal.

Banana Leaf Rice

Now, this one you have got to try! Banana leaf has always been synonymous with Indian food, and here heaps of rice are

piled on a banana leaf loaded with different curries, dhal, vegetables, rasam (tamarind soup) and fried papadoms and Indian

crispy. Game for Indian dessert? Then try the thick and sweet payasam to complete your lunch. The shop assistant moves

around with stainless steel containers and you just need to flag him for additional helpings. Best of all, it is cheap... and you

can really sample quite a variety of Indian dishes.

Chicken Rice

There are several variations of chicken rice but the most popular kind is that which originates from the Hainan province in

China. A very popular dish, it is made up of fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock and served with either roasted or steamed

chicken drizzled with a little soy sauce based gravy, sliced cucumber, a bowl of soup and a special chilli sauce. A delight for

weight watchers!

Roti Canai & A Hot Cup of Teh Tarik

The Roti Canai and Teh Tarik combo is a meal for any hour of the day, and it's usually available at Mamak stalls and

restaurants, which can be found almost everywhere in the city. Roti canai is the local Indian bread. Watch the skilled roti

canai expert stretch and toss the dough into the desired shape and thickness and then cook it on a flat iron skillet with a

generous amount of oil. Good roti canai is best eaten right off the skillet (when cold it can be chewy and tough). It is crispy

on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside and normally served with dhal curry (chickpea gravy). There are various

versions today, among which the roti canai bawang (onion) and roti canai sardine (sardine) being the most popular ones.

When at a Mamak stall, you are bound to hear, "Teh tarik satu" (One teh tarik) most of the times. It's that popular among the

locals. Teh tarik literally means 'pulled tea'. This is a frothy milk tea which has been skilfully pulled from one mug to another

to increase the aroma and hasten the cooling process. Malaysians tend to have sweet tooth and our 'teh tarik' can be very

sweet. So do ask for the 'kurang manis' (less sugar) version.

Satay

Bite size pieces of meat marinated in a variety of spices. The marinated meat is then skewered through thin bamboo strips

and barbecued over charcoal fire until golden brown. A wide range of meat can be used, like chicken, beef or mutton.

The sweetish and juicy 'satay' is normally served with sliced cucumbers, onions, ketupat (compressed rice cake) and a spicy

sweet peanut sauce for dipping. Satay is recommended as an appetiser during an evening meal.

Char Kuey Teow

Flat rice noodles stir fried over a very hot stove with minced garlic, chilli paste, fresh prawns, bean sprouts, cockles and

eggs. It is then seasoned with dark soy sauce and salt. Char Kway Teow can be eaten anytime of the day. Simply delicious!

Kopitiam

Kopitiam is the Hokkein word for 'coffee shop'. Take a trip to these coffee shops and try out the locally brewed coffee and

the 'kaya' toasted bread.

What makes the coffee special? Local coffee beans are roasted with margarine and grounded to give them more robust

taste. These grounded coffee beans are then brewed and served black, white or white with sugar. Kaya is the rich, delicious

and popular Malaysian 'jam' made of coconut milk, sugar and egg. The kaya mixture is spread over the toasted bread,

together with a thick helping of butter or margarine.

Seafood

There are loads of great seafood restaurants where you can choose really fresh seafood (some are caught straight from the

tank). Seafood is delicious, whatever style of cooking. You can try the chilli crabs (prepare to use your fingers here), butter

prawns, asam fish head curry, steamed fish, grilled seafood. the list goes on.

Hawker Food

Hawker food in Kuala Lumpur is varied, cheap and generally delicious. The casual (non-air-conditioned) hawker stalls and

food streets dining and ambiance are experiences not to be missed. This can be in the form of food courts or streets lined

with stalls which only operate from evening until late at night. Making a choice can be overwhelming. Just take the noodle

dishes for example. There is the Wantan, Kway Teow, Hokkein mee, Cantonese mee, varieties of laksa and more. The

atmosphere is vibrant and noisy. Some of the famous food streets are Jalan Alor, Petaling Streets, Jalan Imbi and Puduraya

bus stations. In the Golden Triangle area the best outdoor hawker centre is the Bukit Bintang (BB) Park, where a mouth-

watering array of stalls sell just about everything from tandoori to western grills. In Bangsar, the indoor Jalan Telawi Tiga

food centre is also a popular alternative.

Local Fruits

There are wide varieties of tasty and nutritious tropical fruits found in Malaysia - both locally grown and imported. They are

sold in supermarkets, stalls and open-air night markets. Some can be found year round, like papaya and watermelon while

others, like durian, rambutan and ciku, are seasonal.

There are many ways to eat the fruit. Some are best eaten fresh, while others, like banana and jackfruits can be made into

tasty fritters. The juicy ones like watermelon, starfruits are both eaten as dessert as well as pressed for juices. Some of the

fruits are also made into jam, preserves and pickle. Do make it a point to sample some of these fruits while you are in Kuala

Lumpur.

Malacca

Malacca is well-known for its food. Most notable of all is the traditional Malay dishes like ikan asam pedas, sambal

belacan and cencaluk.

Belacan, a Malay variety of shrimp paste, is prepared from fresh tiny shrimp of a species known as keragu in Malay.

These are mashed into a paste and dried in little mashed lumps, pounded and formed into large balls, dried again for

a week or so, wrapped in plastic and stored for future use. It is in this form that most of these blachan balls are sold.

Belacan is used as an ingredient in many dishes, or eaten on its own with rice. A common preparation is sambal

belacan, made by mixing belacan with chili peppers, minced garlic, shallot paste and sugar and then fried. The aroma

from the frying mixture can be unpalatable to Westerners who have not become accustomed to it, but is an absolute

delight to the Asian connoisseur.

Malacca is also famous for satay celup. Raw fish and meat are skewered onto sticks which is then cooked in a

peanut sauce. The satay celup is often self-service where you pay for individual sticks.

There is also Nyonya-Baba cuisine which is a mixture of Chinese (mostly southern Hokkien or Fujian influence),

Portuguese, Dutch, Indian, British and Malay cooking with most dishes being spicy in nature. Interesting dishes of the

Peranakan include Itik Tim (a soup containing duck and salted vegetables), Ayam Pong Teh (chicken casserole with

salted brown-bean sauce which is usually served with potatoes) as well as the famous Nyonya Laksa. Chicken Rice

Ball is another dish popular with domestic Chinese tourists.

Malacca's ethnic Portuguese population are the descendants of Portuguese colonists from the 16th and 17th

centuries. Even to this day, many of the ancient traditions passed down since the Portuguese occupation are still

practised, i.e. "Intrudu" from Portuguese word "Entrudo" (a water festival that marks the beginning of Lent,

the Catholic fasting period), "branyu" (traditional dance), "Santa Cruz" (a yearly Festival of street celebrations).

The Portuguese colonists contributed dishes like Devil's Curry and Portuguese egg tarts to the town's already rich

cuisine. Ikan Bakar (roasted fish) restaurants in Umbai, Serkam and Alai are also popular.

There is also a sizeable amount of Sikhs residing in Malacca. Devotees of Sikhism from all over Malaysia and the

world congregate each year at the well-maintained gurdwara (Sikh temple) situated in Jalan Temenggong during the

last weekend of May. The occasion marks the commemoration of the death of its former priest, Sant Baba Sohan

Singh Ji, who was elevated to a saint upon passing away. Visitors are welcome but are advised to follow rules and

common practices within the premises. Typical vegetarian punjabi cuisine will be served to everyone visiting the

gurdwara.

Terengganu

The most famous local food is Keropok Lekor, which is made primarily from a combination of dough (sago flour) and

pounded fish mainly from mackerel and sardines, fried and served with hot chilli sauce for afternoon tea. Keropok

Keping (fish crackers) are made from sun-dried slices of Keropok Lekor. Numerous keropok stalls are to be found on

the side of the highway that passes through coastal communities.

Budu, a very pungent and salty anchovy sauce is also popular among the locals. It is often mixed with sliced onions

and chillies as condiments.

Laksam (or laksang in local Malay dialect), a modified version of Laksa is made from rice flour (thick and soft slices).

It is served in a bowl of light fresh coconut milk mixed with boiled fish flesh (mainly mackerel), finely chopped

cucumbers, chillies, onions and long beans. It is eaten cold at breakfast.

Another Terengganu specialty is sata, a type of otak-otak or fish cake wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over a

grill.

Nasi dagang is also popular.

kelantan

Cuisine

The Kelantanese cuisine, heavily influenced by Thai cuisine, is quite popular among Malaysians. In fact, many

visitors come to Kelantan just to taste the special delicacies that cannot be found elsewhere. The use of sugar is a

must in every Kelantanese kitchen, and thus most Kelantanese dishes are sweet.

Kelantanese food makes more use of coconut milk than anywhere else in the country. Curries are richer, creamier,

and more influenced by the tastes of nearby Thailand.

[edit]Local specialties

Apart from delicacies imported from Thailand, there are delicacies which are invented by the Kelantanese themselves

such as:

Nasi Dagang

This is a mix of white rice and brown glutinous rice (special glutinous rice) which is cooked with coconut milk (santan),

blended onions and garlic and some spices (such as fenugreek) (Malay: halba). Fish or chicken curry comes as an

add-on to complete the dishes together with mildly brown sugared sambal (chili paste), so it's recommended to take

only a small portion as it is extremely filling. The Nasi Dagang is one of the tastiest dishes in Kelantan and goes well

with fish curry, pickle, hard-boiled eggs. See here for the main article about Nasi Dagang

Nasi Kerabu

Nasi Kerabu literally means "rice salad". Kelantan has a variety of Nasi Kerabu. Nasi kerabu biasa (normal) or nasi

kerabu putih (white) which comes with its own sambal tumis (a special coconut milk based gravy with local herbs and

spices, with a hint of chillies) or Nasi kerabu Hitam (black) though the actual color is blue (after the rice is soaked and

cooked with a local flower although some people use artificial equivalents) and nasi kerabu kuning (yellow) which use

tumeric in the preparation of the rice. Nasi Kerabu Hitam and Kuning does not require a sambal tumis, instead, it has

a watery chilly sauce which makes it slightly hotter. The “kerabu” (salad) could be any vegetables or edible leaves

though the more or less standard version will have daun kesum, taugeh (bean sprout), thinly cut; long green beans,

bunga kantan, cucumber (connoisseurs will insist “seeded”), and daun kadok. Apart from that it is also served with

fried breaded fish, keropok keping, salted egg, "solok lada" (chillies stuffed with minced fish and grated coconut), and

pickled garlic. note: traditionally the sauce used is budu (fish sauce) with lime juice, shredded shallots and bird-eye

chillies and not the chilli sauce those numbnuts sellers are using now.

Nasi Tumpang

Rice packed in a cone-shaped banana leaf. A pack of Nasi Tumpang consists of an omelette, meat floss, chicken

and/or shrimp curry and sweet gravy. It is traditionally meant for travellers.

Ayam Golek / Ayam Percik

Wood-fire broiled chicken dressed with sweet coconut gravy. Ayam Golek/Ayam Percik is eaten with white rice in

major family dishes and serve during a feast.

Nasi Berlauk

Most Kelantanese have Nasi Berlauk as their breakfast. Nasi Berlauk is rice served with fish or chicken and

vegetables cooked with tumeric and galangal infused yellow gravy.

Nasi Ulam

Ulam is the local term for raw vegetables - the meal consists of white rice served with a variety of raw vegetables,

and is considered one of the healthiest dishes found in Malay cuisine.

Keropok

These are Kelantanese crackers and can be made from fish, prawns or squid. The way they are made is basically the

same as Keropok Gote, but after they're steamed or boiled, they will be thinly sliced and dried for storage or to be

fried or grilled.

Keropok Gote

These are Kelantanese fish sausages. Made by combining fish flesh and sago or tapioca flour, keropok gote is rolled

into long firm sticks and then steamed or boiled. To enjoy it, one has to cut it into desired bite sized and deep fried.

Keropok Gote is probably the one snack which all Kelantanese children grow up with. It is a must at all school

canteens.

Laksa Kelantan

The Laksa dish, white noodles served with gravy (curry or otherwise) and vegetables, is made differently in every

state in Malaysia. The laksa Kelantan employs the creamy white gravy which is richer and has full-bodied flavour.

The main ingredient is fish flesh, although connoisseurs would certainly prefer the ones made of eels. Laksam is

another version with thicker noodle (similar to kuey teow). Laksa or laksam is served with ulam similar in nasi kerabu,

with a pinch of salt and belachan for added taste

Pisang Coklat

In English, 'Chocolate Banana' which is supposedly the favourite flavour of ice cream in the Kelantan district.

Coconut Shake

This yummy drink usually can be found and sold at some morning markets (so called Pasar Pagi in the weekend) and

night markets. It is made from young coconut juice, blend with its flesh and some ice, plus little amount of cream soda

drink and milk. It will form like ice blended, and usually served with vanilla ice-cream on top of the drink. It is hard to

find this drink sold outside Kelantan.

[edit]Thai-influenced dishes

Perhaps the most characteristic Kelantanese-Thai dish is 'kaeng matsaman'—a mouth-watering beef curry cooked

with peanuts, potatoes and chopped red onions in a thick coconut milk sauce. Other Kelantanese-Thai specialties

include: 'kaeng phanaeng kai'—savoury chicken and coconut curry. 'Kaeng som nom mai dong'—hot and sour fish

ragout with pickled bamboo. 'Pla see siad haeng thawt'—deep fried semi-dried pla see fish. 'Khao yam pak tai'—an

intriguing breakfast salad. The presentation is exquisite. A small pile of fragrant boiled rice, accompanied by finely

chopped heaps of lemon grass, peanuts, bean sprouts, green beans, sour mango and chopped makrut orkaffir lime is

served with spicy chilli pepper, fresh lime and a piquant sweet-sour sauce. It's unusual, elegant, and very typical of

Kelantan. Kelantanese dishes, like central Thai, are usually accompanied by generous helpings of 'khao suay', or

"beautiful rice"—the best of which, 'khao hawm Mali', or jasmine-fragrance rice, is steamed until each grain is tender

but separate. When something tastes this good, the Thais utter in full emotion:-"Pisek!"

Somtam

Somtam is a green papaya salad with a salty, spicy, and sour taste. The main items in it are young, unripe

papaya, soy sauce, groundnuts, fish sauce, lime juice, and chilies. These items are combined in a mortar,

pounded with a pestle for few seconds and served. The salty and lime juicy taste is very popular. This light

dish is widely available in regions with large numbers of ethnic Thais, such as Tumpat and Siamese wats.

Colek

Contrary to popular belief, Colek is not just a dipping sauce, but can also refer to a snack eaten with the

sauce. Colek comes in various forms, including meaty cholek, colek ayam (chicken), colek perut (cow tripe),

colek pelepong (cow liver), and also a variety of colek buah (fruits)m such as colek pauh (mango).

The sauce or "the colek" comes in various forms. • Colek manis (with brown sugar). • A sweet, sour and

very mildly hot version. This colek is different from other chili sauces because colek is very thin and

rather sweet. This dipping sauce is used for any kind of chicken, but also goes well with shrimp, fish

cake, spring roll, sausage, etc.

Budu

Budu is a salted (fermented) anchovy sauce eaten with rice, grilled fish and vegetables/salads (ulam). A bit

of lime juice, hot chilis and shallots are added on for taste. Also, tempoyak (fermented durian) or fresh

durian is added for good measure.

Once so combined, the purple-brownish condiment has a blend of salty and sour taste. Nowadays,

other types of fish are also used to create Budu. Famous budu maker villages are Kg. Tawang,

Bachok and Kg. Penambang near Kota Bharu. Similar sauces are found in the Philippines and

Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia).

Tempoyak

Tempoyak is a fermented durian dip, used with normal white rice. Most unforgettable is eating the

'tempoyak+budu+ulam'.

Those with high blood pressure should beware of the high salt content of this condiment,

however.

Phat phet

Another famous Thai dish is 'phat phet belut'. The main ingredient of this cooking is eel. Many Thai

restaurants around Tumpat and Wakaf Bharu make this dish their main attraction. Some customers prefer it

spicy, and some prefer it less spicy. This dish is not easy to cook; it needs some experience in handling the

heat, natural ingredients, salt, and the eel itself. This dish is also influenced by Chinese cuisine, for whom

there is a belief that eating this exotic food is more healthy.

Selangor

Satay   is a Malaysian classic dish that is also very popular in Selangor. Satay is better known as Meat on

a Stick and is are cooked with chicken, mutton or beef on hot charcoal and served with fresh cucumber,

onion and a spicy peanut dipping sauce. The spicy peanut dipping sauce is what makes satay special.

Malay food is often described as spicy and flavourful and uti l ises a melting pot of spices and herbs.  

A variety of Indian dishes are also on offer in Selangor. There are a number of North Indian restaurants

which are very popular and offer a complete dining experience. Western food can also be found all over

Selangor but it is always a good idea to pick and choose a restaurant serving Western Cuisine. This is

because the quality may not be the same that you are looking for.  

A feature of Selangor is Hawker food. There are numerous hawker stalls prominently posit ioned along

the busy streets of Selangor. The hawkers offer a wide choice of food ranging from Satays to Nasi Lemak

and other popular Malay cuisine. Dim Sums are also available at these hawker stalls.  

Selangor is also widely known for its Chinese cuisine. Dim Sums are available in all major Chinese

restaurants and is very popular.  

Sabah

Malay food is very popular in Sabah especially around breakfast t ime. A very popular dish among locals

as well as visitors is roti with its various sauces. The tradit ional Malay dish of Satay is also popular

here. Satay   is better known as Meat on a Stick and is are cooked with chicken, mutton or beef on hot

charcoal and served with fresh cucumber, onion and a spicy peanut dipping sauce. The spicy peanut

dipping sauce is what makes satay special. Malay food is often described as spicy and flavorful and

uti l izes a melting pot of spices and herbs.

Street food or hawker food is also very popular in Sabah just l ike any other state in Malaysia. These

hawkers serve everything varying from a number of local dishes as well as Italian cuisine. Most hawkers

however concentrate on rice and noodle dishes which are enjoyed by one and all.  

Chinese food is also very popular here because of a large presence of Chinese people in most parts of

Sabah. The popular Cantonese dish known as Dim Sum are very popular and also in its varied forms.  

A variety of Indian dishes are also on offer in Sabah. There are a number of North Indian restaurants

which are very popular and offer a complete dining experience. Western food can also be found all over

Sabah but it is always a good idea to pick and choose a restaurant serving Western Cuisine. This is

because the quality may not be the same that you are looking for.  

Pahang

Malay food is very popular in the region. Malay food is spicy with a hint of sweetness. Herbs l ike as

lemon grass, pandan leaves and wild ginger bus are common ingredients of Malay dishes. Satay is a

popular Malay dish in the state The dish comprises of pieces of marinated meat which is cooked on an

open flame with the help of palm leaf sticks. The dish is consumed with a highly spiced peanut sauce,

cucumber, onions and ketupat or rice boiled in palm leaf cases.  

The dish is extremely popular and it can be easily designated as the kebab of Malaysia. Rice also

popular with the Malays and there are many Malay dishes that incorporate rice. Nasi Lemak is one such

dish that is prepared by cooking rice with coconut milk and eaten with a piquant anchovy sauce, hard-

boiled egg, peanuts and cucumber slices.  

Chinese dishes are also very popular in the state and there are many restaurants in Pahang that offer l ip

smacking Chinese delicacies. Chinese cuisine includes numerous variations of rice and noodles and

frequently incorporates meats such as venison, frogs, shark f ins, and snails and occasionally l izards are

also used in Chinese recipes. Dim sum is a popular Chinese dish available in the region.  

Since a large number of Indians reside in the state therefore Indian food is easily available in Pahang.

Coriander, turmeric, cumin and curry are common ingredients of Indian dishes and ghee, yoghurt and

chil i are also used frequently. Indian food can be best described as elaborate, fragrant and hot. Both

North Indian and South Indian food are available in the region. Nasi Biriyani is a popular North Indian

dish in the state.  

Seafood is a specialty in the state and one popular dish that you can avail in the region is Ikan baker or

gri l led fish. Pahang is also home to a large number of luscious fruits. Varieties of fruits are available in

the state l ike Rambutan, ciku, mango, watermelon, guava, mangosteen, papaya, pineapple and starfruit.  

Besides these, there are a number of roadside stalls in the state from where you can avail delicious and

sumptuous food items.  

Sarawak

If you tour Sarawak, then do not forget to taste the Sarawak Laksa; the dish has become a part of the

local culture in the state. It is a vermicell i dish prepared in Chinese style and served hot along with

chicken and egg shreds, prawns and beansprouts in a bowl of spicy coconut soup cooked with tamarind.

This process of preparing Laksa is absolutely different from the Laksa that you wil l f ind in other states in

the country. The popularity of the dish is because of the fact that it is cheap and is consumed by the

locals as breakfast or as a l ight meal throughout the day. This special Saarawakian delicacy is widely

available in the state; you wil l f ind it everywhere from roadside stalls to restaurants. Besides Laksa there

are other local dishes that are equally popular l ike Kolo Mee, fr ied Kway Teow, fried noodles (Mee

Goreng), Kueh Chap, and Mee Sua.  

Sarawak is home to some of the delicious seafoods in South East Asia. Since many towns of the state

are situated in close proximity to the sea, therefore these places receive large supplies of f ish daily,

either from the South China Sea or f ish is imported from Thailand, Indonesia and Sabah, during the rainy

season at the end of the year. Some of the popular f ishes that are widely available in the state are

pomphret, red snapper, garoupa, Spanish mackerel, kurau, haruan, terubok and the ray fish. These

fishes are served in the restaurants and hawker stalls in numerous ways l ike steamed, fr ied, baked,

curried, gri l led or with sambal. Sambal is an indigenous spicy mixture made of onions, dried chil l ies,

candlenuts and belacan (prawn paste). Crabs, prawns, lobsters, clams, squids, oysters and bamboo

clams are also popular in the Sarawak.  

Jungle ferns are also part of the popular local cuisine. Two popular jungle fern that are popular for their

texture and taste are midin and paku. The ferns are generally served with either garl ic or belacan.  

Kedah

Known as the 'Rice Bowl of Malaysia', Kedah is particularly famous for its numerous rice dishes and rice

preparations. 'Nasi Ulam ' is an extremely popular dish, which is made by mixing rice with fresh

vegetables and rare spices. 'Pulut ' is another very popular rice dish, especially with people l iving in the

northern side. It is eaten with mango, durian and bananas. This particular dish also has numerous

variations which include Pulut Sambal ' , 'Pulut Inti ' and 'Tapai Pulut ' . Laksa is another very popular dish

of Kedah. The dish consists of rice noodles, which is eaten with f ish curry, cucumber and onion.  

One can try out the numerous tradit ional local dishes sold in the food stall of Kedah. These dishes are

extremely tasty and made with exotic herbs, spices, vegetables and other ingredients. These dishes

include Gulai Nangka ' , 'Sayur Keladi ' and 'Pekasam ' .  

Desserts and sweet dishes are also extremely popular in Kedah. In fact, the festivals are a great t ime to

try out the popular sweet preparations and dishes of this multi cultural state of Malaysia. The popular

sweet dishes include 'Baulu ' and 'Dodol ' . These are sweet cakes, which are made from flour, coconut

and sugar. 

The island of Langkawi is famous for its local dish called ' Laksa Kuala Kedah ' . This dish is made of rice

vermicell i and fish gravy. The various seafood delicacies available in Langkawi and other coastal towns

of Kedah are simply irresistible and worth trying.  Tan Kee RoastDuck is another popular preparation

having its origins from Lunas in Kedah.

Seafood is extremely popular in Kedah. One can try out the  chilly crabs, grilled squids,

prawns  or fish sold in the numerous food stalls found near the beaches. The food stalls in Pantai Murni

Esplanade are particularly famous for these dishes. Tanjung Dawai, a f ishing vil lage, is particularly

known for its seafood, which includes  salted fish  and fish crackers . 

Apart from the tradit ional food of Kedah, one can also find Thai, Chinese, Indian and Japanese food in

the numerous hotels in Kedah. One can try out the  Tom Yam Soup , a popular Thai dish or go for the

sushi and Dim sum . Indian food is extremely popular over here. The  Dosas, Chapattis  and spicy

curries  served in the Indian restaurants are simply delicious and irresistible. Japanese food is extremely

costly in Kedah and one can also find German and Italians dishes in Kedah.  

Food in Kedah is a extremely tasty and wil l surely satisfy your palate. It is the best way to get a taste of

the food of Malaysia and experience its rich culture.