Jurnal Borneo-Kalimantan

Engagements and Encounters with Professor Rodney Needham: Retrospective Thoughts on Correspondence 1971-1997 and the Sarawak Dimension

2025-04-02T23:06:16+08:00

Professor Rodney Needham was an outstanding scholar of the social sciences and someone who embarked ambitiously on fieldwork among the Penan in the early 1950s, when they were a remote hunting-gathering population in interior Sarawak. He also spent time with Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and then went on to undertake a study in Sumba, eastern Indonesia. However, he gained his international reputation in social anthropology from his meticulous and exacting work in structuralism, symbolic classification and the examination and understanding of the “fundamental structures of the human mind”. He did much more, in bringing French and Dutch structuralism to an Anglophone audience and promoting the work of those he felt to be neglected in anthropological circles, and those whose work he translated and edited from Dutch, German and French, including Claude Lévi-Strauss, Robert Hertz and Hans Schǡrer. This paper records detailed and edited correspondence with Rodney Needham from 1971 to 1997, which expresses his humanity, his propriety, his willingness to guide and advise and to give his time freely. It gives expression to some of the developing thoughts and perspectives of a leading scholar of anthropology in the second half of the twentieth century. It also demonstrates his sustained interest in the Penan, Sarawak and the wider Borneo during his long career from 1950. Although he was not a member of Raymond Firth’s and Edmund Leach’s Colonial Social Science Research Council studies which comprised J.D.[Derek]Freeman (on the Iban of the Baleh region, upper Rejang), H.S. [Stephen] Morris (on the coastal Melanau of Oya and Mukah), W.R. [Bill] Geddes (on the Bidayuh/Land Dayaks of Mentu Tapuh in the Sadong region of upriver Sarawak) and Tien Ju-K’ang (on the Chinese of Kuching and its environs), Needham marked out an influential field of studies of hunting-gathering populations in Borneo. He did not publish a revised version of his Oxford DPhil thesis on the Penan, but he produced a series of papers on relative age, relationship terminologies, classification and naming systems.

Walking the Invisible Lines: Ethnographic Reflections on Statelessness Among Indigenous Communities in Rural Sarawak

2025-04-29T10:47:52+08:00

This article reflects on the ethnographic journey undertaken to explore the lived realities of statelessness among rural indigenous communities in Sarawak, Malaysia. The objective of the study is to examine how legal invisibility intersects with historical marginalization, administrative barriers, and everyday precarity to shape the experiences of indigenous individuals who remain excluded from formal citizenship. Utilizing a qualitative ethnographic methodology, the research draws upon in-depth interviews, participant observations, and case studies conducted between 2021 and 2023 across selected stateless individuals and stakeholders in Kota Samarahan, Lundu, Sibu, and Kuching. The findings reveal that statelessness is not merely a legal anomaly but a structurally produced and socially lived condition, perpetuated through unrecognized customary marriages, intergenerational documentation gaps, religious conversion complexities, and rigid bureaucratic systems. Everyday life for stateless individuals is characterized by restricted access to education, healthcare, and employment, compounded by emotional distress and societal invisibility. This reflection highlights the methodological challenges and ethical considerations encountered during fieldwork, particularly in negotiating trust and representing vulnerable communities with dignity. The article concludes that addressing statelessness among Sarawak’s indigenous peoples demands a critical rethinking of citizenship frameworks, emphasizing historical justice, cultural sensitivity, and the amplification of indigenous voices in policymaking processes.

Tradisi dan Penggunaan Mantera dalam Etnik Kenyah

2025-04-28T16:20:57+08:00

Mantera merupakan elemen sosio-budaya masyarakat. Dalam konteks masyarakat Kenyah tradisional, mantera dipelajari dan dipindahkan kepada ahli-ahli masyarakat melalui penggunaan bahasa lisan dan ritual berkenaan mantera diamalkan dalam kehidupan harian seperti budaya bertanam padi dan budaya penyembuhan. Melalui mantera, corak pemikiran dan budaya masyarakat Kenyah diteliti sebagai usaha merungkai tradisi mantera tradisional dan perubahan yang berlaku akibat agen transformasi sosial seperti pengenalan agama Kristian, pendidikan formal dan perkhidmatan bioperubatan, budaya berasaskan wang dan penggunaan teknologi. Kajian menunjukkan amalan budaya mantera didapati dalam pelbagai aspek sosio-budaya seperti adat resam dan pantang larang, perubatan, pertanian, dan kepahlawanan. Walau bagaimanapun budaya mantera hampir pupus kerana budaya berkenaan hanya diamalkan oleh golongan tua.

The Tree, the Compass, and the Mirror: Toward a Sacred Philosophy of History in Sarawak

2025-05-16T17:36:02+08:00

This article proposes a sacred philosophy of history grounded in Sarawak’s political memory, symbols, and contemplative traditions. In an age of post-truth, where knowledge is often reduced to emotion, spectacle, and data, there is an urgent need to recover meaning in how history is studied, remembered and shared. Guided by Tawhidic Epistemology, this paper reimagines history not merely as a record of events, but as a field of signs and responsibilities that connect human life to higher truths. Through the metaphors of the tree (rooted memory), the compass (sacred tradition), and the mirror (collective reflection), it draws on the works of Sarawakian historians such as Sanib Said, Suffian Mansor, and Adibah Yusuf to show that a contemplative, spiritually grounded approach to history already exists within local traditions. The proposal resonates with the metaphysical insights of Muhammad Umar Faruque and responds to Jason Stanley’s critique of political knowledge in the post-truth era. By calling for a reintegration of the humanities and social sciences with science and technology, the article suggests that Sarawak’s unique historical consciousness may offer a path toward restoring meaning, dignity, and balance in education, leadership, and global civilizational discourse.

Abstrak:

Makalah ini mengusulkan satu falsafah sejarah yang bersifat sakral, berakar dalam ingatan politik, lambang-lambang budaya, dan tradisi kontemplatif Sarawak. Dalam zaman pasca-kebenaran, apabila ilmu semakin dikurangkan kepada emosi, tontonan dan data semata-mata, keperluan untuk memulihkan makna dalam cara sejarah dikaji, diingati dan dikongsi menjadi sangat mendesak. Berpandukan Epistemologi Tauhidik, makalah ini menafsirkan semula sejarah bukan sekadar sebagai catatan peristiwa, tetapi sebagai medan tanda dan tanggungjawab yang menghubungkan kehidupan manusia dengan kebenaran yang lebih tinggi. Melalui tiga metafora yakni pokok (ingatan yang berakar), kompas (arah suci), dan cermin (pantulan kolektif), penulisan ini merujuk kepada karya tokoh-tokoh sejarah Sarawak seperti Sanib Said, Suffian Mansor, dan Adibah Yusuf untuk menunjukkan bahawa pendekatan sejarah yang kontemplatif dan berteraskan kerohanian sudah pun wujud dalam tradisi tempatan. Cadangan ini sejalan dengan pandangan metafizik Muhammad Umar Faruque dan memberikan respons terhadap analisis Jason Stanley berkenaan krisis ilmu dalam era pasca-kebenaran. Dengan menyeru agar bidang kemanusiaan dan sains sosial digabungkan semula bersama sains dan teknologi, makalah ini mencadangkan bahawa kesedaran sejarah Sarawak yang unik mampu membuka jalan ke arah pemulihan makna, maruah dan keseimbangan dalam pendidikan, kepemimpinan, dan wacana peradaban global.

Peace systems and Peacemaking - The Long Jawe Peacemaking

2025-04-15T11:25:01+08:00

One of the earliest and most critical attacks during the period of Confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia was when some 200 Kenyah Indonesians from Long Nawang led by Indonesian army commandos went to attack Long Jawe on 28 September 1963. Two Gurkhas were killed in the attack and ten Kenyah Border Scouts. In the follow-up operation some 32 Indonesians were killed. The incident had a devastating impact on previously cordial ties between villages on each side of the border. After the official signing of peace in August 1966, there was a peacemaking in Long Jawe on 20 August 1967. However, the story of how this came about is only just beginning to unfold. This article outlines events that led to this peacemaking and how certain aspects of the process demonstrate features of peace systems and characteristics of indigenous peacemaking.

Jungle Doc : Providing Rural Health Clinic Services in Sarawak

2024-12-24T16:35:31+08:00

This article is to share the experience and challenges of serving in a rural health clinic and to inspire healthcare workers to take up the challenge to serve in interior regions. The article shares the author’s experiences encountered while serving at Mulu National Park Health Clinic. Mulu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in Sarawak, Malaysia. It holds many natural wonders and the settlement there consist of the nomadic Penan tribe and the Berawan mainly. With a population up to around 1000 it is a settlement surrounded by jungle. Medical services are provided from a government clinic since the early 90s, with an in-house medical officer post established since 2010. Serving at rural areas is an opportunity to gain valuable medical experience and provide medical and public health services to the community.

Malaysia’s Role as ASEAN Chair in ASEAN-India Cooperation: An Analysis of Sustainability and Inclusivity

2025-04-03T23:15:43+08:00

The ASEAN-India relationship represents a vital multilateral partnership spanning various fields. This multilateral collaboration is pursued due to ASEAN's recognition of India's significance as one of the world's economic powers, capable of bringing positive returns to the Southeast Asian region through ASEAN. Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN from 2025 to 2027 positions it as a significant player within the organization, especially since Malaysia was one of the five founding nations of ASEAN in 1965. This study aims to explore Malaysia's role in ASEAN-India cooperation from its inception to the present. Furthermore, it seeks to identify the significance of the ASEAN-India partnership to Malaysia, encompassing benefits in economic, political, strategic, and socio-cultural aspects. Malaysia's membership in ASEAN underscores the priority of ASEAN in Malaysia's foreign policy. ASEAN's policies, driven by the "ASEAN Way," significantly impact Malaysia, with all member states supporting ASEAN-India cooperation. The author employs a library research approach and references official Malaysian government and ASEAN organization websites. This method reveals that Malaysia's democratic and progressive foreign policy, coupled with its active and effective approach, has a substantial impact on ASEAN and its cooperation with India as an economic power.

The Malaysia Plan: A Policy Initiative and/or a Shopping List

2025-04-28T12:26:51+08:00

The Malaysia Plan is a five-year development plan. Many countries implemented the five-year development plan because of the failure of the market or price mechanism to promote growth, efficiency and equity. The plan can help to accelerate the country’s economic growth and development through resource mobilization and allocation. The process of making a Malaysia Plan is a lengthy exercise, involving all levels of the civil service, and numerous technical committees and taskforces. At the end of this exercise, the projects to be implemented are documented in the plan’s project list. But none of the approved or identified projects will be implemented in the first year of any Malaysia Plan period, as the tenders for the projects will only be in the second half of the year. Some of the projects may not be implemented at all during the plan period as the projects may not receive any allocations in the plan’s five annual budgets. Some of the projects may also be taken out of the list during the Mid-Term Review of the Plan. Experience has shown that about 60% of the approved Malaysia Plan projects cannot be implemented or completed in the same plan period. The Malaysia Plan document is an economic manifesto and a political document. Is it also a mere shopping list?

The Berawan Comparative Glossary: Motivation, Challenges and Undergirding Principles

2025-02-10T13:31:58+08:00

The paper describes the motivation for the glossary, the challenges in eliciting vocab on traditional lifestyle, flora and fauna, and the principles undergirding a unified orthography. Berawan is a language family comprised of four lects. The Berawan settlements are located along the Tinjar and Tutoh rivers, which are tributaries of the Baram River in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The main output of this lexicography project was a comparative glossary with 1163 lexical items and for each of these items, all four lects are displayed side by side with English and Malay glosses. The Berawan lexemes are presented using a community approved unified orthography, which represents sounds that are pronounced the same way with the same graphemes across lects but also presents differences in a consistent way. The undergirding principles for the unified Berawan orthography are linguistic soundness, cross-lectal comparability, reproducibility, teachability, acceptability to all stakeholders and economical representation of sounds and words. It is hoped that the Comparative Berawan Glossary will become an impetus for the future production of Berawan dictionaries and literature.

Exploring the Role of Kenyah Traditional Culture in Upland Rice Cultivation

2025-04-10T17:48:22+08:00

Sarawak hill or upland paddy farming has sustained indigenous communities for centuries, deeply intertwined with their cultural identity and livelihoods. Preserving these practices is crucial for food security, sustainable agriculture, and potential agritourism development. This study explores the traditional culture of the Kenyah people in upland rice cultivation through a qualitative approach, involving purposive sampling of Sarawak’s hill paddy farmers. Data were collected via in-depth interviews and participant observations. Findings reveal that cultural traditions such as Ramay Pelepek Oman (a festival marking the transition between harvesting and planting seasons), unique social structures, communal harvesting (senguyun), local delicacies, and handicrafts contribute to the sustainability of hill paddy farming. However, some animistic beliefs are fading due to religious conversions, affecting traditional aesthetics but potentially improving farming efficiency. These findings highlight the Kenyah’s people cultural role in upland rice cultivation, emphasizing the need for preservation efforts.

Sultans’ Palaces and Museums in Indonesian Borneo : National Policies, Political Decentralization, Cultural Depatrimonization, Identity Relocalization, 1950-2010

2025-04-02T22:35:57+08:00

This essay reviews the development of second-generation museums (state museums) in independent Indonesia, and the state’s policies regarding culture and museums. It then focuses on the specific case of Kalimantan, during the New Order period (1965-1998) and after the rapid decentralization that followed the demise of President Soeharto’s regime. Then the advent of a third generation of museums in the early 2000s isdescribed, as well as a process of depatrimonization of the palaces and their collections subsequent to the restoration of the former kingdoms. Finally, it briefly considers the future role of these palaces in the regions’ cultures and increasingly lively political scenes, and discusses the “new museum” concept meant to involve local communities, as applied to Kalimantan.