Festival of the skulls bathing

The worriors shouted but everybody present at the festival venue observed strictly the dos and don'ts to avoid being harmed by the spirits.

Everybody were in celebration mood as thousands of them from near and far converged Kampung Sebujit in West Kalimantan, Indonesia to witness the annual human's skulls bathing ritual called 'nyobeng' in the local Bidayuh language.

The ceremony which was practised by pagan Bidayuh a long time ago is still observed by the community in the Sibujit district of West Kalimantan in Indonesia.

A group of 17 Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Supreme Council members and branches leaders led by its president Datuk Ik Pahon Anak Joyik were in Sebujit in the District of Siding Kabupaten Bengkayang in Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia to join the Bidayuh community there to celebrate the 'nyobeng' ritual/festival and the "Budaya Serumpun" gathering.

DBNA group was invited by the Dayak Bidayuh Indonesia (DBI) as their quests to witness the occassion and also to participate in the 'Budaya Serumpun" gathering  held at Kampung Sibujit recently.

Traditionally hundreds of years ago 'nyobeng' was being held to welcome home their worriors from head-hunting trips but since head hunting activities is no longer being practised here nowadays, the ceremony is being held to bath the skulls captured by their ancestors.

Every time the ceremony is being observed the Bidayuh community in Sibujit will invite fellow Bidayuh from Sarawak to attend the occassion.

According to several reference, ‘nyobeng’  is a ritual of bathing the human skulls which was captured during the ‘ngayau’ (headhunting trip) by their ancestors hundreds of years ago.

The 'nyobeng' ceremony lasted for three days and the purpose was to appease the spirit of the skulls so that it would not harm the villagers.

According to the 'ketua adat' (customary chief) of Kampung Sebujit, Pak Amin, during the 'nyobeng' ritual the spirit of the human skulls are being fed and the skulls which are kept in the 'adat house' (customar house) are given bath.

During the ritual ceremony all the worriors gathered at the entrance to the village to guest and asked on their purpose of visit to the village.

"Nyobeng is an annual ritual ceremony performed since our forefather time. In the olden days the ceremony was held to welcome home our worriors from the headhunting trip but as there is no more headhunting activities the occassion is being observed to bath the skulls," explained Pak Ali.

Dressed in red with beads and animal teeths decorated around their neck and armed with parangs, blowpipes and guns the worriors fired gun shots to the air to welcome their guests.

Pak Amin said the gun shot was to call the spirits of "komang" or "leluhur" and at the same time asking permission from the spirits to perform the 'nyobeng' ritual.

At the ceremony recently the 'ketua adat' threw a dog to the air and a group leader of DBNA delegates was given the honour to slaughter the dog.
Later on the 'ketua adat' threw a black chicken to the air and again the delegates' leader was asked to slaughter it.

The 'ketua adat' later invited the women taking part in the ritual to throw eggs to their quests. If the eggs broke it mean the vistors are coming to the village with sincerity.

While the 'ketua adat' threw white and yellow coloured rice to the air he chanting to the spirits to seek the permission to hold the ritual.

Later the ladies offered tuak to the quests and escorted them to 'Rumah Balug' in the middle of the village for another session of the 'nyobeng' ritual ceremony.

Meanwhile the “Budaya Serumpun” event was organised by Dinas Budparpora Bengkayang through Kasi Kesenian Tradisional dan Modern, Ricky H. Silalahi Jumat. The organiser for DBNA were Ik Pahon and Alim Mideh.

The journey from the Malaysian-Indonesian boarder to Seluas in West Kalimantan, Indonesia was arranged by K.Gunawan of Sibujit and it took about one hour through Jagoi Babang and Siding district.

From Seluas bazaar the group took boat ride to reach Sungai Bumbum before continuing their journey on foot for one and a half hour to reach Kampung Sebujit.

"We have to walk through muddy jungle paths and it was a tiring journey for the participants but everybody was smiled as they arrived in Sibujit," said one of the delegate's member, Joseph Jindy.

Jindy explained that the visit was to enable DBNA dan Dayak Bidayuh Indonesia to enhance culture cooperation between the Bidayuh of both countries.

"It is hoped that the visit and the organisation of the "Budaya Serumpun' event could promote positive attitude among the Bidayuh from both side in various fields including ecomomic, social, culture and agriculture," he said.

On arrival in Sibujit the delegates were brought to Rumah Adat or locally known as “Rumah Adat Balug”. The house is owned by the local Bidayuh. It is situated at Desa Sebujit and was used for the 'nyobeng' ritual ceremony.

In Sebujit also found homestay programme to house the guests. Some of DBNA delegates also stayed at the homestay. Altogether 15 homestay houses are available there, with a canteen. Each house is able to accomodate five to six guests.

For some this probably the first time they ever witnessed the 'nyobeng' ritual ceremony.

"ADIL KATA LINO, BACURAMIN KA SARUGA, BASENGAT KA JUBATA"
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Pandelela jumps to see the world

“JUMP! Don’t be afraid to jump if you want to see the world.”

George Pamg, the father of international diver’s sensation Pandelela Rinong said he gave those words of encouragement to all his four children.

And true enough when two of her four children, Pandelela, 17, and her elder brother Pardika Indoma, 18, both jumped from the platform at the Stampark Swimming Pool in BDC, Kuching at the age of six years old and eventually they won medals at the Sukma Games before they both flew to several countries all over the world to participate in the international diving championships.

Both Pandelela and Pardika has been to Jakarta, Sydney, China, Laos, Rome, Germany, Singapore and recently India to name a few to compete in international diving championships.

Pandelela, a Bidayuh lass from Kampung Jugan, Bau is now on top of the world following her recent achievements, wining one silver and one gold medal for the nation at the just concluded XIX Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
To date Pandelela has won 71 medals in total with 17 medals from international meets (seven gold, seven silver and three bronze) while the rest are from national championships.

She won a gold and silver medals at the 2007 SEA Games, four gold medals at the 5th Asian Age Group Championship 2007 in Jakarta, one silver and one bronze at the Youth Olympic Games 2009, Sydney, one silver and one bronze at the 5th FINA Diving Grand Prix 2009 in China, two gold at the SEA Games in Laos, one bronze at the World Championship in Rome, Italy in 2009, three gold and one silver at the Mini Olympic 2009, two silver at the Youth Olympic Games 2009 in Singapore and one gold, one silver at the XIX Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Pandelela was awarded Sarawak Promising Sports Woman for 2007/2008 and she also received RM20,000 incentive from the federal government.

Inconjunction with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri birthday on Saturday Pandelela together with another Sarawak’s international diver Brian Nickson Lomas were conferred the Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Sarawak – Ahli Bintang Sarawak.

Her elder brother Pardika is also an international diver and had just competed in the international meet in USA but failed to win any medal. Both are studying at Bukit Jalil Sports School. Pardika is a pre-university student while Pandelela is in her fifth form.

But their successful stories did not come without having gone through hardship and sacrifices.

Pamg said for seven years he sacrificed his time, money and energy to support his two children before seeing them successful.

He said Pandelela started taking the sport when she was in Year One (Primary 1) at SJC Stampin in Kuching.

“She was among those picked to undergo selection at Stampark Swimming Pool in Kuching and was selected to represent the state and was trained by Chinese coaches at that time.

“Since then I was fully occupied having to divide my time between working and sending her to school early in the morning, picking her from school in the afternoon and sent her to the Stampark Swimming Pool for training and picking her for home in the evening.

“Sometimes Pandelela have to eat and drink in the car. She was fully occupied between school and training. In the morning she has to attend classes, after class she went straight for training,” explained Pamg.

However because of his wish to see both Pandelela and Pardika excel in the sport, Pamg never gave up and was determine to go on with the daily routine.

Pamg also became part time driver to the Pandelela's Chinese coach.

“When the Chinese coach want to go out to town or going up and coming down from the airport I have to drive her. She was closed to Pandelela and our family because she could communicate in Mandarin with Pandelela,” Pamg said.

At that time the family stayed in a house at a construction site at Stutong area, not far away from the Lions Nursing Home.

Pandelela attended her Form One at SMK Tabuan Jaya for only six months and later moved to Bukit Jalil Sports School in 2006.

Since then Pandelela seldom come home as she was very busy with her trainings dan tournament's schedule. She was surpose to come home three times a year – during Gawai Dayak, Christmas and Hari Raya.

Sometimes she only returned to her parent’s home in Taman Samarex in Kota Samarahan once a year.

The other divers from Sarawak who trained under the Chinese coach together with Pandelela were Brian Nickson Lomas, Abdul Afiq Aziznuddin, Elizabeth Jimi and Pardika Indoma.

“It was really tough for Pandelela but she was strong. She cried when her coach punished her but she never mentioned that she wanted to quit,” said Pamg.

Pamg said he saw the Chinese coach hitting Pandelela with slippers when Pandela commits mistakes, adding that was normal to him and he never have any quarell with the coach.

“I knew the coach wanted her to be the best. Most of the divers training together with her quits training because they could not stand it,” he added.

On the allowances received by Pandelela, Pamg said it was hardly enough to cover her daughter expenses, adding that sometimes he gave Pandelela her pocket money.

Pamg was however disappointed with the State Sports Council when they stop paying Pandelela’s allowance since 2008, and now she is only receiving allowance from the the National Sports Council (MSN).

“I do not understand why the State Sports Council stop paying her allowance,” said Pamg, adding he was not sure how much allowance is her daughter receiving from MSN.

Pamg was however happy with the MSN for their prompt payments of incentives to her daughter each time she win medals for the country.

He confirmed that her daughter has received the RM20,000 incentives for wining a gold and a silver medal in Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August this year.

“For the gold and silver medals she won at the just concluded Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, my daughter told me the incentives is expected to be paid to her after the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in November,” he said.

A committee member of the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Youth Wing, Rojers Peter said Pandelela deserve to receive incentives from both the federal and the state government.

He suggested the state government give either a house or a piece of land in Kuching to Pandelela as the incentives.

“I think that is not too much as Pandelela has made the state and country proud with her superb achievements,” added Rojers.

Pamg work as a labourer at a construction sites in Sejingkat and his income is not steady.

"If there is jobs to do I will be paid daily salary and when my employer is out of job I will also be out of job and I will be without salary." But Pamg still have to pay the monthly instalments for a house they bought in 2005.

Pandedela has two other siblings who are still studying, Pici Parnia, 12, and Parcelia Renyelia, 10, who were both studying at SK Jalan Muara Tuang in Year Six and four respectively.

However both Pici and Parcellia did not like the sport as they were afraid of water.
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Former Iban tracker is sick in his longhouse

FIFTY nine years ago Jepit Anak Malong, 72, with other Iban trackers fought to defend the nation, but now the army veteran is fighting for his own life.

Jepit who served in the British Army between 1951 to 1952 is sick at his longhouse Rumah Panjang Pelasok, Skrang in Sri Aman Division and badly needs financial assistance.
  

He needs a wheel chair to move around as he is paralysed due to stroke.

Life is really hard for him and his blind wife, Kemban Anak Renang, 60. They have no other income except receiving RM70 monthly allowance from the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Veteran Angkatan Tentara Malaysia.

Jepit who is also suffering from other sicknesses - hepatitis and high blood pressure, alleged that he has been denied welfare assistance from the government.

He said that he had applied for welfare assistance from the Welfare Department but up to now he did not receive any form of assistance from the department.

“I have made several applications but until now there was no answer from the department,” he said.

“If others who are better off than me can get the assistance, then why can’t I? I had sacrificed to serve the nation, and the government should consider helping me, especially when I am old and unable to work,” he added.

Jepit and his wife are being taken care by their second eldest son, Thomas who is a farmer, whose income was barely enough for the family.

For his service Jepit was awarded the service medal while serving 1^st BN, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (Iban Platoon) in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan in 1952.

Recalling his days in service Jepit said his first attachment was with ‘A’ Company, Ist Batalion Green Howards in Malacca for four months in 1951 before joining 1^st Batallion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) with the Iban Platoon in 1952.

Jepit has claimed that he was the recipient of the King George Cross medal but a check with the Sarawak branch of the Armed Force Veteran Department revealed that he was only awarded the service medal.

Records showed there was only one Iban tracker being awarded King George Cross medal in the person of Awang anak Rawang who served with the Iban Tracker Platoon in Johor.

Awang was awarded with the medal on Nov 20, 1951 in recognition of his bravery act in guarding injured soldiers.

The medal was created in 1940 by King George VI to recognize bravery of the highest order by civilians and (later) members of the armed forces who carried out acts of bravery while direct enemy force was not involved.

A worker from the Sarawak branch of the Armed Force Veteran Department Ismail Bin Awang Johny said Jepit like the other Iban Trackers are only entitled to receive the RM70 monthly allowance.

He said only after the proposed Armed Force Veteran Act is approved and enforced only than the allowance of those Iban Trackers and other categories of the armed force veterans could be increased.

Ismail suggested that Jepit’s wife to apply for the Welfare Department assistance.

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More than 80 families in Kampung Bumuk without electricity

KUCHING: More than 80 families in Kampung Bumbok extension are still without electricity supply.

They have been in the dark for more than 10 years now although the village is just 19 kilometres  away from the Kuching City. 

Another 30 percent out of more than 200 houses at the original Kampung Bumbok are also without the electricity supply.

These are new houses built after the second phase of the Rural Electricity Supply Scheme (RESS) extended to the village in the early 90s.

The first phase was implemented in the 70s.

“The villagers were promised several times by the government to extend RESS to these houses but up to today it remains promises,” said the village’s Development and Security Committee member, Mortima Yorke Gohe.

He said the application for the project was first forwarded to the Ministry of Public Utilities in 2000 and another four letters was forwarded in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Motima said the replies they received from the ministry was in 2004, 2007, 2008 and August 2010 respectively but none of the letter from the Ministry of Public Utilities confirmed that the proposed project has been approved and implemented.

He said in the first letters from the Ministry of Development dated 22 December 2004 stated that the application has been received from JKKK Kampung Bumbok and has been included in the RESS list.

“The second letter received from the same ministry dated 17 April January 2007 also stated that the project will be considered for implementation under the 9^th Malaysia Plan while the third letter dated July 30, 2008  stated that the project is under consideration to be included under RESS in the 9^th Malaysia Plan,” said Mortima.

He said the fourth letter dated August 12, 2010 from the Ministry of Public Utilities stated that the proposed RESS project for the village has been put in the database of the ministry and to be considered to be implementation in 2011/2012 but depending on approval from the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, Malaysia.

  

“There was no concrete decision on the approval of the project. It just mentioned that the application has been put in the database but did not state that the project has been approved.

“We are already tired of receiving empty promises and we really hope that this time the government will fulfill their promise to us,” said Mortima.

Mortima said the villagers urged the their representative Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister Department Tan Joo Phoi and Deputy Work Minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng to act to bring the project to the village.

He said the villagers has to depend on generator sets for the electricity supply while students who were given laptops by the Federal Government has to charge their computer’s battery at their relatives house.

“It’s troublesome and we really hope the government extend the project to us because to extend the supply individually (not scheme) will cost a lot of money, which the villagers couldn’t afford,” he added.

To connect the supply to one house would cost more than RM7,000, said Mortima.

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