Journal of Borneo-Kalimantan

Identiti Kaum Penan di Sarawak Berasaskan Modifikasi Modal Semula Jadi

Benard Upieh — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Hubungan timbal balik yang terjalin secara semula jadi antara masyarakat Penan dan modal semula jadi berpaksikan kepada keperluan asas kehidupan harian yang saling melengkapi. Kecenderungan masyarakat Penan untuk memodifikasi modal semula jadi dilihat sebagai satu strategi yang diadaptasi untuk memenuhi tuntutan kelangsungan hidup mereka. Seiring dengan itu, proses modifikasi ini telah membentuk suatu identiti unik yang mencerminkan budaya dan cara hidup masyarakat Penan yang dinamik. Makalah ini bertujuan meneliti pembentukan identiti masyarakat Penan berasaskan modifikasi terhadap modal semula jadi. Kajian empirikal telah dilaksanakan melibatkan komuniti Penan di Batu Bungan, Kampung Long Lesuan, dan Kampung Long Ludin, yang terletak dalam daerah Baram dan Telang Usan, Sarawak. Data dikumpulkan melalui pendekatan kualitatif yang merangkumi temu bual mendalam dan pemerhatian turut serta di lapangan. Hasil kajian mengenal pasti kewujudan dua bentuk identiti utama dalam kalangan masyarakat Penan, iaitu (1) identiti tradisional dan (2) identiti teradaptasi. Kedua-dua bentuk identiti ini, secara kumulatif, membentuk susunan sosio-budaya masyarakat Penan kontemporari. Kajian ini mencadangkan agar pembentukan identiti tersebut dijadikan asas dalam wacana ilmiah bagi memperkukuh rujukan akademik yang berkaitan dengan komuniti peribumi. Pemeliharaan identiti masyarakat Penan dilihat sebagai aspek yang signifikan dalam usaha memperkukuh jati diri mereka, khususnya dalam konteks penyertaan yang lebih bermakna dalam masyarakat arus perdana.

A Naming, Identity, and Ethnography: The Tatau Community in Sarawak’s Tatau District

Calvin Jemarang — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This paper re-examines the historical identity of the Tatau people in Sarawak, Borneo, challenging persistent misconceptions in both academic discourse and local narratives. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, genealogical records, and archival sources, it demonstrates that the Tatau constitute an indigenous Punan community with longstanding roots in the Tatau River basin. The analysis critiques the prevailing conflation of Tatau identity with the Rumah Jalong longhouse, revealing this association as a product of mid-twentieth-century Ibanisation and colonial-era administrative categorisation. By reconstructing territorial affiliations, kinship linkages, and migration histories, the paper argues that Tatau identity historically encompassed a broader network of settlements — including Murung Tuguong, Murung Data, and Murung Muput — extending beyond the demographic and symbolic reach of Rumah Jalong. It also foregrounds the region’s multi-ethnic interactions, including longstanding relations with Melanau, Kanowit, Tanjong, and Berawan groups, thereby problematising assumptions of Iban cultural dominance. The study advocates for a more historically attuned and genealogically informed approach to the study of indigenous identity in Sarawak — one that accounts for the fluidity of ethnic categories, the politics of memory, and the contingent nature of community claims over time.

History of Coffee Farm Development with Local Communities and Wildlife in Ulu Baram, Sarawak

Hayato Kikuchi, Daisuke Bundo, Shigeyuki Izumiyama, Kentaro Kanazawa — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

In the upper reaches of the Baram River (hereafter Ulu Baram) in the central highlands of Borneo, there is a movement to conserve biodiversity effectively and sustainably in areas outside national parks and wildlife reserves. This initiative is led by local communities with cooperation from the state government. This study examines a coffee farm in Ulu Baram as a case study, analyzing the impacts of the farm’s development strategies on the local community from both socio-economic and ecological perspectives. The owner has maintained operations for 20 years, keeping revenues just above breakeven. Coffee cultivation requires a certain level of labor, making it a space for community-building and enabling different ethnic groups to collaborate. The coffee farm caused limited environmental disturbance and did not lead to a decline in wildlife or significant changes to the forest landscape. The presence of medium-to-large animals, including rare species, and the documentation of their reproduction in the adjacent secondary forest suggest that farm development and wildlife survival can coexist under sustainable management.

Paradiplomacy at the Sarawak–Kalimantan Border through SOSEK-MALINDO

Nurul Huda Marwan , Mohd Kamarulnizam Abdullah, Shazwanis Shukri — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This article examines Sarawak's participation in the SOSEK-MALINDO (Kerjasama Sosial Ekonomi Malaysia-Indonesia) framework as an example of subnational involvement in cross-border governance. While foreign affairs and border security remain under federal jurisdiction in Malaysia, Sarawak has engaged actively in SOSEK-MALINDO through collaboration with Kalimantan at both the state-province and technical levels. Drawing on qualitative data from in-depth interviews with key state and federal officials, the study investigates Sarawak’s external engagement within a federally institutional framework. The findings indicate that SOSEK-MALINDO functions as a multi-level and multi-sectoral governance platform, enabling subnational participation while maintaining federal authority. At the state-province level, Sarawak contributes to agenda-setting and coordination on border development and socio-economic priorities. At the technical level, Sarawak’s involvement centers on implementation-oriented collaboration among various ministries and departments. This study argues that Sarawak’s involvement in SOSEK-MALINDO is better understood as paradiplomacy grounded in strategic complementarity rather than driven by subnational assertiveness. It further contributes to the paradiplomacy literature by illustrating how subnational external engagement can occur within centralized, asymmetrical federations through practical cooperation.

Ethnography of Irup (Jamu): Medicinal Disclosure of the Traditional Malay’s Midwifery Practices in Sarawak

Rosmawati Bolhassan, Rashidah Bolhassan, Awang Rozaimie — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The Malay Archipelago has long practised the use of herbs and/or organic plants to make herbal decoction drinks (jamu) for medicinal purposes. However, the practice of ingesting herbal decoctions has been gradually eroding due to the surge of modernisation and simplicity, as well as the decline in the number of practitioners of traditional medicine. In particular, the consumption of herbal concoctions (referred to locally as irup) by women in confinement after childbirth, which is a practice of traditional midwifery among Malays in Sarawak. This indigenous wisdom is increasingly dwindling and experiencing diaspora issues due to a lack of written records or pertinent reference materials and the particular ingredients of the sorts of herbs and plants mixture used in the making of irup being typically not shared openly. Thus, using ethnographic inquiry methods, a qualified traditional midwife in Kuching, Sarawak, discloses the specifics of the herbs and plant mixture used to make the irup. The findings discussed in this paper are crucial because they convey society's contemporary perception of the traditional herbs found in the making of irup, especially its potential to prevent or lessen the risk of postpartum depression and the blues. It is important to preserve social aspects of traditional practices for the benefit of future generations, as well as to help shape the Malay community's constantly disappearing cultural identity and indigenous medical knowledge, especially among Malays in Sarawak.

From Martial Art to Stage Performance: Modern Adaptations of Kuntau Among the Dayak Iban

Claudia Jiton, Juna Liau, Dick Lembang Dugun — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This study explores the transformation of kuntau, a traditional martial art of the Iban Dayak community, from its origins as a martial art skill and symbol of male courage to its present role as a stage performance. The objective is to examine changes in function, community perception, and adjustments in practice and performance. Guided by a constructivist–interpretivist philosophy, the research employed a mixed approach involving a review of research questions with 122 respondents from Kuching, Samarahan, and Sri Aman, alongside field observations and in-depth interviews with five kuntau teachers. Findings indicate that while traditional elements such as floral movements, techniques, and symbolic values are preserved, modifications for stage performances have led to changes in movement patterns, reduced ritual practices, and increased choreographic features. Despite concerns over authenticity, the Iban community continues to regard kuntau as a significant and relevant cultural heritage. The discussion highlights the need to balance tradition with adaptation to contemporary contexts to ensure sustainability. This study contributes to the discourse on intangible cultural heritage preservation by providing insights into how cultural practices can evolve without losing their core identity.

Imbuhan Kata Kerja Bahasa Iban dalam Laras Formal

Norazuna Norahim, Claudia Vica — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Bahasa Iban sudah lama bertapak sebagai bahasa tulisan, namun penerbitan yang meneliti penggunaanya dalam laras formal masih kurang diusahakan. Justeru, kajian ini meneliti imbuhan kata kerja dalam laras formal dan membuat perbandingan imbuhan kata kerja bahasa Iban dengan bahasa Melayu. Kajian ini menerapkan kerangka Nahu Sistem (Asmah, 2009) dalam analisis data, serta memanfaatkan data dari akhbar Suara Sarawak. Keseluruhan data kajian ialah sebanyak 120 kolum (24000 patah perkataan). Imbuhan kata kerja dalam bahasa Iban yang ditemui ialah seperti berikut: Awalan (be-di-, dike-, te-,N-); Apitan (be-ka, di-ka, dipe-ka, te-ka, N-ka); Akhiran (-ka). Kesemua imbuhan ini sangat produktif dalam menerbitkan pelbagai jenis kata kerja. Meskipun sesetengah imbuhan ini diserap terus ke dalam bahasa Iban melalui proses peminjaman kata, namun telah diperluaskan gabungannya dengan kosa kata jati bahasa Iban. Kemunculan imbuhan kompleks merupakan perkembangan baru bersesuaian dengan gaya penulisan formal. Proses penggantian konsonan berhomorgan di posisi awal kata dasar turut produktif, dan ia merupakan ciri khusus bahasa Iban. Meskipun kajian ini hanya meneliti kata kerja, namun serba sedikit ia telah memperlihatkan pengaruh bahasa Melayu terhadap perkembangan laras formal dalam bahasa Iban serta transformasinya dari bahasa lisan ke bahasa tulisan.

Ethnomedicinal and Ethnopharmacology Value of Plants Used by Kenyah in Borneo: A Review

Swen Jack Kho, Juna Liau, Mohd Razip Asaruddin, Showkat Ahmad Bhawani — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Numerous societies across the globe rely on medicinal plants as a primary therapeutic resource. These plants have a long history of use in traditional medicine among several indigenous communities in Borneo. Among these communities is the Kenyah, who have an extensive heritage of relying on plants for medicinal purposes. The purpose of this review is to examine and compile the ethnomedicinal utilisation of plants by the Kenyah people of Borneo. This review included and documented different plants used by the locals of Borneo particularly Kenyah of Kalimantan and Sarawak for various medicinal purposes. The plants are grouped into family name, scientific name, and local name. Tabulation of each plant's specific treatment remedy after the method of administration, which may involve crushing and drinking an infusion, applying a poultice externally, grinding the plant into a paste, or inhaling smoke were done. The documentation identified 61 plant families, and several traditional treatment groups. Selected plants are scrutinized for their existing data on traditional usage to determine further potential and research gaps for research of the plants relating with the Kenyah ethnomedicinal knowledge.

The Association between Socio-demographic Profile and Lifestyle Practice with Nutritional status: A Cross- Sectional Study Among Seventh- Day Adventist Practitioners in Kuching, Sarawak

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The Seventh-Day Adventism recommends their followers to adopt a healthy diet, adequate physical activity, avoidance of addictive substances, fostering faith and hope to give meaning to life. This study aimed to investigate the association between socio-demographic profile and lifestyle practice with nutritional status in Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) practitioners in East Malaysia. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among SDA members aged 18 and above between February and June 2023. The total of 323 respondents was drawn from five SDA Churches based on Kuching, Sarawak. Using questionnaires, data on socio-demographic characteristics, nutritional status, spiritual practice, lifestyle behaviours were collected. Anthropometry measurement was also taken in the survey. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 29.0. The study found that SDA members have satisfactory religious beliefs and involvement. Minority were alcohol drinkers (24.1%) and current smokers (4%). About 35% of the respondents were involved in regular physical activities and mostly were obese (44%) with high abdominal obesity (67.5%). The univariate analysis showed that gender was significantly associated with nutritional status (BMI, p=0.022; waist circumference p<0.001; and waist-hip ratio p<0.001). The higher prevalence of BMI, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio observed in women compared to men is associated with a combination of physiological, hormonal and lifestyle behaviours. These findings suggest the need for more effective interventions tailored to their daily routine.

Rivers and the Penan Landscape

Jayl Langub — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Keeping clear of polemology or irenology theories and the various explanations tendered about religious reasons for tribal war and headhunting practices, as well as of recent international conflicts, this essay describes the general Borneo setting and the particular situation of the Kapit-and-Baleh region as the meeting point of five of the island’s major river basins. In an attempt to uncover features common to the island as a whole, it first focuses on its heartland, and examines the customs or adat relative to waging war and restoring peace among traditional peoples of the interior. Then, in a diachronic perspective, it tries to figure out how these peoples’ assumed autochthonous methods of conflict prevention and resolution changed across historical periods, from pre-colonial times, insofar as they can be properly identified from both interviews with local people and data from the extant literature; via innovations progressively introduced by contact with and influences from coastal (“Malay”) societies; to the sweeping effect of the colonial states’ administrative policies; and the subsequent powerful impact of modern national (or State) societal practices and legal procedures. While the last phase has led to the local development of new forms of written adat corpuses, this essay also points to some other post-independence developments, and to what may remain today of ancient patterns regarding conflicts, their prevention, and their resolution.

Out of Borneo - Provenance and Materiality of Objects from Borneo in the Wunderkammer at the Halle Orphanage: International Comparative Perspective

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The Wunderkammer of the Francke Foundations (Halle, Germany) is an 18th-century museum space. However, the collection also possesses a vibrant and evolving history in the 19th century. This includes the fascinating and complex story of objects from Borneo, sent to Halle in the 1840s – a history now situated within current scholarly debates and postcolonial research. A project funded by the German Lost Art Foundation is conducting an in-depth provenance study of these objects between 2023 and 2026. On 2 April 2025, an international workshop brought together experts from institutions in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia to share research findings and perspectives on Bornean collections held in various countries, as well as on the broader history of collecting objects from Borneo. The workshop explored specific themes and research questions concerning individual collection items, focusing on their original meanings and uses, as well as their significance within the history of collecting in Borneo. These discussions enabled the identification of connections among the various collections, within which the objects housed in the Wunderkammer of the Francke Foundations can be situated as part of one of the earliest known collections.

ACADEMIC IMPACT MAGNIFIED (A.I.M.): A Case Study in Cultural Programming Impact

Shalini Amerasinghe Ganendra — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This article introduces Academic Impact Magnified (A.I.M.), a conceptual framework I developed to articulate the productive intersection between scholarly inquiry and cultural programming. Emerging from my interdisciplinary trajectory—from legal practice to curatorial leadership and academic research—A.I.M. asserts that impactful scholarship must extend beyond the bounds of academic publishing to engage diverse publics through intentional and dialogic cultural experiences. Drawing on recent programming at University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), this paper elucidates the praxis of A.I.M. through curated dialogue, participatory workshops and peer collaboration. I contextualise A.I.M. within my broader curatorial-academic practice, examining case studies such as various exhibition programmes, the cultural marquee, Gallery Weekend Kuala Lumpur (GWKL) and the Museum of Oxford’s “Image & Identity” exhibition. I argue that cultural programming is not simply a mechanism for dissemination, but a generative and rigorous site for knowledge production, critical reflection and public impact.