Sarawak Mirror: Mount Siburan the ancestral village of the Biatah

Kampung Sungai Duuh with Mount Siburan as the background

KAMPUNG Sentah on top of the 1,090 feet Mount Siburan, also known as Bung Siburan is the ancestral village of the Bidayuh Biatah clan.

It is the oldest village in Siburan and has been in existence for 630 years.

In order to access the village, most of the visitors will park their car at the foot of the mountain and walk up the mountain which takes approximately 40 minutes (for the new visitors) and about 15 minutes drive.

From Kampung Sentah, visitors have to climb 201 small steps to reach the top of the mountain where a ceremonial house ‘panggah’ and a-five-room longhouse used for the homestay programme is situated.

Beautiful surrounding at the homestay on top of Mout Siburan.

According to the origin of Biatah group, most of them are actually originated from Kampung Sentah.

According to Kampung Sentah headman Nomina Benyi, majority if the villages had moved down from the village and established new settlements, which the first group moved down in 1830 to establish Kampung Quop, than followed by other groups who established their new settlements in Siburan area, namely Kampung Sungai Duuh, Kampung Misaan, Kampung Sinjok, Kampung Tijirak, Kampung Seratau and Kampung Primas is the latest.

On top of the mountain is a ‘panggah’ (ceremonial house) and a building resembled the ancient longhouse with five living rooms, a common ‘awah’ and the ‘tanju’. Each room has a fire place and a washing area called ‘pawad’.

201 steps to the homestay.

Owned by Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Kebudayaan Siburan Asal (JKKSA), the place was built 20 years, and now functions as homestay to cater for visitors and tourists wishing to spend their times in the village.

State Assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Roland Sagah is the advisor and Pemanca Austin Dimin is the chairman of the 23 years old committee .

According to Pemanca Dimin, the ‘panggah’ and the longhouse was built at the cost of RM20,000.

Concrete house in Kampung Sentah.

Dimin said the place has been frequently visited by local and foreign tourists.

At the top of the mountain and its surrounding are found several ‘ayak’ which produce clean spring water.

Dimin said the homestay need bigger water tank to collect the spring water which can be flowed to the homestay.

He said the committee had submitted the proposal to MPP for the construction of the proposed water tank two years ago but no response received from the local council so far. “We need water supply, better toilet and shower rooms for the homestay,” said Dimin.

Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos who made a visit to the homestay last Saturday approved the amount of RM50,000 for the purpose – RM20,000 for building a small dam to provide water to the homestay and RM30,000 to upgrade the homestay.

Nowadays, the 42 families in Kampung Sentah are living in a single house after the last longhouse of eight doors was pulled down more than 20 years ago.

The longhouse at the top of Mount Siburan.

Nomina said road to the village was constructed in 1981. Before that there was only footpaths going up the mountain.

The school in the village has also been closed down due to low enrolment, and the primary school pupils from the village have to go down to study at SK Batu Siburan near Siburan bazaar.

However it was only in April last year that the village, which could be reached in 40 minutes by foot and 15 minutes by car from Siburan Bazaar had electricity.

In view of the rich history of the village, Nomina hoped that the government would upgrade the facilities in the village – building better road and the provide fund for tourism-related activities to improve the livelihood of the residents.

He said the village is frequently visited by tourists, who put up at the homestay and are charged RM60 pert night per room.

Guests gathering at the common area 'awah'.

If they take up the whole longhouse with five rooms they would have to pay RM200 per night and for the usage of the ‘panggah’ they would be charged RM150.

”The water supply to the homestay should be resolved immediately,” he said.

There are few folklore and tales about Mount Siburan or locally known as Tebung Siburan.

One of it was about a couple involving in prohibited love affair as they have family relationship, and as the result the ‘raban’ had occurred - thunder storm hit Mount Siburan and the couple turned to stones and are called “Batu Teyok”.

Another folklore was about their heroes – the best known were two ‘panglima’ (chieftains) who were the defenders of the mountain folk – Bai Taje and Bai Mayon. They were said to have supernatural powers and could fly and had defended Mount Siburan and its people from head hunters attacks.

The other interesting places to visit is the Tang Teruma at the foot of the mountain which is said to be the best cave in Kuching Duvision.

The 'abuh' - a fire place in one of the longhouse room.

Dimin said he was told by a cave expert who had entered the cave, that it was the best cave found in Kuching Division.

However no local people dare to enter the cave as the old believe says that the cave is haunted and it will close when someone entered it and other frightening stories.

According to Dimin, there was one incident when a local man entered the cave and he ended coming out from the cave near to SMK Siburan where he was rescued.

ONE FOR THE ALBUM: Datuk Dr James Dawos (4th left),
Datuk Roland Sagah (3rd left), Pemanca Austin Dimin
(2nd left), Wilson Sipilak (5th left) and Douglas Jipau
(extreme left) during their visit to Mount. Siburan

Hence Dimin suggested that a study be conducted in the cave to know what is inside the cave. Sagah also suggested that more tourism products to be developed in the village to attract more tourists to the village. Meanwhile a study has also been conducted on the potential of Kampung Sentah and Mount Siburan to be developed as tourist spot. The consultant, Ranjen Sangum proposed several infrastructural facilities to be developed there, among them better road to the top the mountain. He suggested the erecting of an arch at the foot of the mountain, ample parking space, signages along the road to the mountain and within the vicinity of the mountain, historical information of the area. He also suggested that the ‘ayak’ be properly developed as it would become an attraction to tourists because of its spring water.