Flagging-off by Dr Clarence Jerry (second left), former Temenggong Robert Sulis Ridu (third left), Nicholas Amin (second right) and Gabriel Kajeh (third right). Also seen are Jubilant Austinway (fifth left) and other organising committee members.
Group photograph after erecting the belian plaque to mark the exact location of the old settlement.
Group photograph before the climb up the sacred Bung Sadung.
SERIAN: The 60th anniversary of Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) was commemorated with an expedition up the iconic Bung Sadung (Mount Sadung) here last Saturday, which attracted some 50 climbers.
The expedition themed ‘Maawang Bukar Bung Sadung Climbaton’, jointly organised by DBNA Bung Sadung branch and Serian District Council (SDC), was to trace and locate the exact location of the old settlement on the mountain which was then marked with a belian plaque.
Bung Sadung, which is about 2,454 feet above sea level, is one of the highest mountains in the Serian Division and regarded as sacred by the Bukar Bidayuh tribe as it was where their old settlement was established many generations ago.
The take-off point for last Saturday’s expedition was at Kampung Lanchang Sabai, a Bukar Bidayuh village along the Baki-Riih road.
DBNA Bung Sadung chairman Nicholas Amin in his welcoming speech stressed the importance of preserving the historical, traditional and cultural heritage for the younger generation to appreciate their roots, apart from the traditional cultural expressions for eco-tourism.
SDC councillor and chairman of the council’s tourism, landscape and environment committee Gabriel Kajeh Menggu hoped Bung Sadung can be promoted to the world as a cultural heritage of the Bukar Bidayuh tribe.
“This is indeed a dream for the tribe to be known with a documented history,” said Kajeh, who officiated at the event.
Others present at the function included the organising chairman Bobby Durin, co-organising chairman Reginald Abel, DBNA secretary general Jubilant Austinway, DBNA treasurer Asem Linkin, assistant treasurer Dr Clarence Jerry and a few councillors from SDC.
Bung Sadung is considered a symbol of cultural heritage and pride of the Bukar people, a sub-dialectical group of the Bidayuh tribe in the Serian Division. It also serves as water catchment area particularly for the villages of Tarat, Kakeng, Jenan, Bantang, Lanchang, Taee, Baru and Bunga.
On May 31, Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong announced a grant to kick-start efforts to promote Bung Sadung as a tourism spot for those who want to learn more about nature and culture
Based on oral history, it is said that the early Bukar Bidayuh tribe established the settlement there to flee from the threat of enemies due to the headhunting culture of the olden days.
Later, when there was no more threat from harassment by the enemies, an increase in population, and a need for more agricultural land, the tribe came down to the surrounding areas to establish new settlements such as Kampung Lanchang, Kampung Jenan, Kampung Bantang, Kampung Taee, Kampung Baru, Kampung Bunga, Kampung Tarat and others.
Meanwhile, Clarence, who is also secretary of the DBNA Serian branch, in his comments yesterday hoped that a Bung Sadung Development Committee would be set up to develop the old settlement so that it would be more accessible to the public and with proper facilities.
He applauded the commendable effort of DBNA Bung Sadung branch and the Serian District Council in organising this expedition, which he considered was a very successful one. In fact, invitations to participate in this event were extended to all the villages which have their roots in the old settlement.
He hoped the activity will be an annual event, perhaps held during the Gawai festive season and at a grander scale.