FULL IBAN RITUAL: A ‘miring’ ceremony before the exhumation of the graves that were affected by Jalan Song/Ng. Sipan/SK Temalat/Ngemah/Sibu at Nanga Sipan area.
KAPIT: The exhumation of three graves affected by the construction of Jalan Song/Ng. Sipan/SK Temalat/Ngemah/Kanowit/Sibu road at Nanga Sipan had been completed successfully in full compliance with traditional Iban ritual and ‘adat’.
The exhumation was carried out by Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak in collaboration with Sarawak Museum, various government agencies led by Song District Office and the longhouse community of Rumah Sudin and Rumah Austin Ikau from Nov 30 to Dec 1.
The graves were those of Tuai Rumah Puso Ajing, who was killed by the communists in 1972; Ganggong Sigan and Enyok Kalong, who were buried at their respective lands that were directly affected by the road project.
Prior to the commencement of the exhumation of the tombs, a ‘miring’ ceremony was held at the site with full ‘adat’ that included sacrificing of a cockerel and a pig to appease the spirits of the dead and to ensure the smooth running of the exhumation process.
The remains of the trio were later collected in a special jar and were buried at the communal burial ground of Rumah Sudin and Rumah Austin Ikau located at Sungai Seringin, in Sungai Sipan area.
The exhumation of the graves was to give way to the road project that runs along the Rajang river, and will eventually connect Song to Ngemah, Kanowit and Sibu.
The construction of Jalan Song/Ng Sipan/SK Temalat is now in progress and is undertaken by Sarcon (M) Sdn Bhd. The 7.9km road project costing RM80 million is expected to be completed by July next year.
Meanwhile, Sarcon (M) Sdn Bhd held their separate ritual conducted by a Chinese medium that included a ‘miring’ ceremony on the same day prior the commencement of the exhumation work.
According to Song district officer Galong Luang, the progress of the road project was now about 41 per cent, a delay of 14 per cent partly due to the three graves that were directly located along the path of the road.
He thanked Sarawak Museum, Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak, the various government agencies, especially Tuai Rumah Sudin and Tuai Rumah Austin Ikau and the next of kin and relatives of the deceased for their close cooperation to ensure the smooth running of the exhumation exercise.
Among those present at the ceremony were Katibas assemblyman Datuk Ambrose Blikau Enturan, Deputy Resident (Development) Selamat Jati Yanjah, officers from Majlis Adat Istiadat Kuching headed by
Jimbun Tawai, Sarawak Museum director Ipoi Datan, a political secretary to the Chief Minister Tengku Geruna, heads of government departments, Iban community leaders and the next of kin and relatives of the deceased.