Jurnal Borneo-Kalimantan

Beyond Language: Bipa Teachers’ Perception of the Role of The Cultural Content in Teaching Indonesia to Foreign Learners in West Kalimantan

Muhammad Kurniawan Rachman — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Culture has become an essential component in the teaching of Bahasa Indonesia for Foreign Speakers (BIPA), as language learning involves not only linguistic competence but also cultural understanding. This study explores the reflections of BIPA teachers in Kalimantan regarding the role of cultural content in teaching Indonesian to foreign learners. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through an online questionnaire distributed to BIPA teachers in West Kalimantan. The questionnaire consisted of demographic questions, perception-based items, and open-ended reflection questions. Three BIPA teachers participated in the study. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes related to perceptions, classroom practices, challenges, and recommendations. The findings reveal that teachers perceive cultural content as an inseparable aspect of language learning because it provides context for communication and helps learners understand Indonesian social values. Teachers integrated various forms of local culture, including traditional songs, culinary traditions, local customs, and intercultural discussions. Authentic cultural materials were found to increase learner engagement and facilitate meaningful learning experiences. However, participants also identified challenges, including limited culturally responsive teaching resources, difficulties in explaining culturally specific concepts, and financial constraints that hinder experiential learning activities. The participants recommended developing more culturally diverse BIPA materials and increasing the representation of regional cultures beyond Java. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on culturally responsive BIPA instruction and highlights the importance of integrating local cultural perspectives into language education.

From Myth to Modernity: The Historical Evolution and Socio Cultural Resilience of Suti Semarang Village, Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan (1939–2025)

Muhammad Syaifulloh, Fernandes Deo — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This study examines the transformation of Suti Semarang Village in Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, from its mythological roots in Dayak Bemoyo tradition to its current status as a modern village. It is guided by three main questions: (i) What was the history of the village prior to 1939? (ii) How did the village take shape in 1939, and how did the name change in 1969 occur? (iii) How have the village’s social, economic, and cultural dimensions evolved between 1939 and 2025? The main objective is to analyse shifts in the village’s functions, changes in community perceptions, and forms of customary adaptation within the context of modernity.

The research employs a descriptive‑analytical historical approach within a constructivist–interpretivist paradigm, combined with a mixed‑methods design. Primary data were obtained through in‑depth interviews with five key informants (the village head, customary leaders, and an RT head), field observations at historical sites, and village documentation. Secondary data include books, scholarly articles, undergraduate theses, and official documents, such as census data and regional regulations on kecamatan (sub‑district) division.

The findings show that traditional elements—such as the legend of Semorongk–Siti, patterns of tembawang migration, and gotong royong (mutual aid)—have been preserved, yet adapted in response to administrative restructuring (the 2002–2003 sub‑district split), a shift toward commercial agriculture, and the impacts of the COVID‑19 pandemic. Modernisation has prompted a rationalisation of customary practices, reduced the role of ritual, and strengthened economic orientations, raising concerns over the authenticity of cultural practice.

The discussion highlights the need to strike a balance between safeguarding tradition and allowing for necessary adaptation so that Dayak Bemoyo identity can endure. This study contributes to debates on intangible cultural heritage in West Kalimantan by illustrating how a local community manages continuity and change without relinquishing its core identity.

Tracing Chinese Migration to Sampadi, Sarawak: A Historical Ethnography of Cultural Integration and Settlement

Yun Teng Wong — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This paper examines the historical migration and settlement of Chinese communities in Sampadi, Sarawak, focusing on how distinct dialect groups—Hakka, Teochew, and Lei Chou—integrated with local Dayak populations. Drawing upon oral histories, archival sources such as the Sarawak Gazette, genealogical records, and ethnographic observations, the study reconstructs the processes through which migrants adapted economically and culturally within a colonial frontier zone. Methodologically, it combines field interviews (n=20) with documentary analysis and site-based ethnography. Findings reveal that Sampadi served as both an economic settlement and a cultural crossroads, where intermarriage, linguistic blending, and hybrid rituals created a localized model of cultural integration. By situating these dynamics within broader frameworks of diaspora, transnationalism, and hybridity, the study contributes to understanding how peripheral settlements like Sampadi illuminate the micro-histories of Chinese migration in Southeast Asia and the negotiation of identity in plural societies.

Linguistic Ambiguity and Indigenous Cognition in Iban Entelah: A Structural, Cognitive, and Pragmatic Analysis

Feona Albert Abell, Dexter Sigan John, Amee Joan, Isabella Jali — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This study examines the structure, cognitive processes, and pragmatic strategies that shape ambiguity in entelah, the traditional Iban riddle genre. Although Iban riddles are rich in cultural knowledge and poetic language, previous research has often analysed them through Western frameworks, which do not fully reflect indigenous perspectives. To address this gap, the study investigates the structural terminology unique to entelah and explores how riddle givers use linguistic ambiguity to conceal meaning and guide interpretation. The research draws on mixed methods, combining ethnographic fieldwork in Saratok with a corpus-based linguistic analysis of 338 riddles, consisting entries from Entelah (Tun Jugah Foundation, 2019). The analysis identifies how Iban riddle givers employ devices such as ulu lungga (hint) (phonological clues), menua lama and menua baru (metaphorical imagery), lexical ambiguity, and culturally grounded cognitive categories to construct riddles that challenge solvers and transmit world knowledge. Findings show that ambiguity in entelah arises from both linguistic and cultural processes, including violations of salience, shifts in accessibility hierarchy, parallelism, and the use of deep and shallow Iban registers. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of Iban verbal art by demonstrating that riddling is a sophisticated linguistic act embedded in cultural cognition, intergenerational knowledge transmission, and poetic performance traditions.

Disability, Identity and Impact of Impairments on The Survivors of Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs)

Juna Liau — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This paper examines the direct and vicarious impact of impairments on the lives of survivors of road traffic injuries (RTIs) and their families. Although the focus of analysis is at individual and household levels, in discussion it relates to social structures. Drawing on data from in-depth interviews and participant observation among survivors, caregivers and community leaders, this paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of disability and to critique ideas linked to lay aetiologies of RTIs, such as fate and individual irresponsibility. Before injury, survivors were living without disability and actively participating in their social world. The paper shows that after injury, survivors social and economic lives were altered, as they coped with changes in bodily functions, and physical capability, and in consequence, as they faced limited opportunities to engage in the social world. It investigates how types of disability affect people in different ways, in an effort to understand the links between their varied experiences, age, gender and ethnicity.

Impact of Computational Thinking in Achieving High Order Thinking Skills at Selected Schools in Sarawak

Nor Iqbal Mohd Sait, Noor’ain Aini, Kartinah Zen — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Computational thinking (CT) is a six-step approach that involves the processes of decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, algorithm, evaluation and logical reasoning that promotes greater levels of thinking and the development of soft skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. This approach was introduced by the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) in 2017 as a component for achieving High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in its efforts of improving the quality of education in the country. Between 2017 to 2019, the Faculty of Computer Sciences and Information Technology (FCSIT) of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) organized the Computational Thinking and Computer Sciences (CTCS) teaching course across Sarawak to prepare teachers for this transition in the MOE’s efforts of improving the quality of education on primary and secondary levels. From a population of teachers, a select number of teachers involved in the course were interviewed to provide further insight into the effectiveness of CT in achieving HOTS.

User Requirement Analysis on Website: Tourism in Pugu, Lundu, Sarawak

Ani Hafiffy Anil Yakin, Yanti Rosmunie Bujang — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This study explores the critical features essential for a tourism website, based on feedback from visitors to Kampung Pugu, Lundu engaging through community. The report highlights several functionalities deemed indispensable by the visitors to enhance the online presence of the destination and make the user experience more engaging and accessible. The key features identified include comprehensive and engaging content with detailed descriptions of local attractions and activities, high-quality images and videos to visually represent the destination, and a user-friendly interface that allows for easy navigation and interaction. An effective online booking system, robust social media integration, and real-time updates about local conditions are also emphasized. Additionally, interactive tools such as chatbots, feedback forms, and FAQs are suggested to improve visitor interaction and service quality. This study also explores the perspective from entrepreneur and visitors point of view exploring their opinions on use of website in tourism. The report concludes that these features are crucial in transforming the website into a more effective tool for promoting tourism and facilitating a smooth experience for potential tourists, thereby contributing significantly to the growth and appeal of tourism in Kampung Pugu, Lundu.

Book Review

Sharifah Sophia Wan Ahmad — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

This is a review of Svara issue no. 18.

The AI Frontier in Borneo: Balancing Innovation and Human Talent in Kuching’s Future

Abdul Basit Muhammad Hussain, Zurina Naihi, Zaihidin Abdul Rahman — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

Under the direction of the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint and the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2030), Sarawak is following a strategic roadmap to become a high-income developed state by 2030. This change transforms Kuching into an AI-powered smart city while utilizing digital innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) to upgrade industries like healthcare and agriculture. Advanced infrastructure, such as the Irix Tier IV Data Center and a commitment to 60% renewable energy, support this objective. However, the state is confronted with a "Human Capital Paradox" that is typified by a talent gap of 60% between traditional schooling and the quick advancement of technology. Sarawak has entered a "bootcamp" phase in response to this, with the CENTEXS Digital Academy offering industry-aligned micro-credentialing to guarantee workforce preparedness. A human-centric strategy that gives algorithmic responsibility and data privacy under the Personal Data Protection Act top priority is necessary for effective implementation. In the end, Sarawak's digital frontier prioritizes social inclusivity through rural Digital Community Centers, guaranteeing that technical developments result in fair and sustainable prosperity for all residents.

Enhancing Cybersecurity Compliance: A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (SSEU)

Zaihidin Abdul Rahman, Halikul Lenando, Ani Hafiffy Anil Yakin — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0800

The increasing digitalization of governmental operations has heightened cybersecurity risks, emphasizing the need for robust compliance frameworks to protect sensitive information. While the Sarawak Government ICT Security Policy (Dasar Keselamatan ICT Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak Bil. 1/2012) addresses these challenges, significant compliance disparities persist across hierarchical levels within the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (SSEU). This study evaluates cybersecurity compliance levels, identifies barriers and proposes hierarchical-level-specific strategies to address gaps in cybersecurity compliance within the SSEU. Using a quantitative research design and stratified random sampling, data was collected from SSEU employees across four hierarchical levels via structured digital questionnaires were evaluated using descriptive and inferential statistical approaches including ANOVA and regression analysis. Results revealed that top management exhibited the highest compliance levels due to greater awareness and training, whereas operational groups (AKP1 and AKP2) faced challenges such as insufficient training, weak enforcement mechanisms and time constraints that highlighting systemic gaps in resource allocation and policy dissemination. Addressing these gaps requires targeted training programs, stronger enforcement mechanisms and strategic leadership support to enhance cybersecurity practices across all organizational levels. Future work should include qualitative exploration of employee behavior and organizational culture, as well as the development of advanced diagnostic tools for real-time compliance monitoring.