NIRWANA COLLEGE

FOUNDATION IN SCIENCE
MARCH INTAKE 2016
MULTICULTURAL PRESENTATION

BY :
IDA CHUA WANG ENG (03-0316-00002)
SELVESWARAN A/L GOPAL 03-0316-00010)
AMIR ARIF B. ROSLAN (03-0316-00012)
SWARAN SINGH SEKHON (981205-10-5297)
LOGESHWARAN A/L PHANDIUAN (960710-05-5451)

TITLE : MELANAU

Arif

Selves

Ida

Swaran

Logesh

Melanau

Introduction
MelanauorA-Likou

are an ethnic
group indigenous toSarawak,
Malaysia.

They

are among the earliest

settlers of Sarawak.

They

speak Melanau language,

which is part of North Bornean
branch of Malayo-Polynesian
languages.

Introduction
In

2010, there are estimated to be

123,410 who consider themselves
Melanau, making it the fifth largest
ethnic group in Sarawak (after Iban,
Chinese, Malays and Bidayuh).

In

the 19th century, the Melanaus

settled in scattered communities
along the main tributaries of the
Rajang River in Central Sarawak.

Introduction
Melanau

or the problematic
Kajang speaking tribes such as
the Sekapan, the Rajang, the
Tanjung and the Kanowit gradually
moved and assimilated into Dayak
migrations settling in the Rajang.

The

Melanau people are regarded

as a sub-ethnic of the Klemantan
Dayak people.

Introduction
Today

the Punan (or Punan Bah)

people are also closely linked to
the last riverine dwelling Melanau
communities previously inhabiting
the middle and upper Rejang
tributaries.

The

Kajang language is kept

relatively alive by the isolated
Sekapan communities Kapit
division of Sarawak.

F
O

N
O
I
T
A
U
C
A
LO LAN
E
M

The

areas of Sarawak inhabited by Melanau speakers

stretch from Bintulu on the northwest coast of Borneo to
the Rajang Delta in the southwest, and up the Rajang
River to Kanowit. Beyond Kanowit are closely related
Kajang peoples, who also are found on the River Baluy.
The inhabitants of the coastal area live along rivers
(Balingian, Mukah, Oya, and Igan) that run parallel to
one another through dense tropical-rain-forest swamp,
and frequently are referred to as the Coastal Melanau to
distinguish them from Melanau speakers on the Rajang.

River Tillian at Mukah

Melanau Delicacies

UMAI

The famous food which all the Melanaus like it,

which is traditional Umai (Melanau Sashimi).

The umai is made by the raw fish. Mostly the

fisherman use the red fish to make umai as it taste
sweet.

The fish must be fresh and still half alive as it flesh

will be tender, sweet and tasty. The fish must be
cut precisely to get rid of its bone and the skin. The
flesh is the most essential ingredients for making
the Umai. Then, it will mix it up with the one cup of
slice onion, two cups of lime juice, 3 spoons of
chillies and lastly the crush of grounds peanut.

Linut

It is made from the sago palm trees. The sago

flour is mixed it up with hot water. And it will
form a clump of glue and continuously mix it up
with hot water and the final results; it will
appear sticky and solid as glue. Linut is best
eaten with the chilli prawn paste while it is still
hot.

Sago is the little tiny sago which being made

manually by hand. They are best being eaten
with the dry fish, curry, and Umai. The taste of
sago is salty and creamy. It can replace rice as
it have high carbohydrate levels and good for
diabetics.

MELANAU ECONOMICS

Subsistence and
Commercial Activities.
Hunting

and gathering, combined with

the cultivation of sago gardens

export

of sago biscuit and forest

products (gums, resins, rattan, timber)
in exchange for metal goods, weapons,
ceramics, and cloth traditionally formed

The

cultivation of sago gardens was

supplemented by growing swamp rice

Trade
dried

fish, salt, nipa palm sugar, and

craft products
palm-leaf thatch, mats, baskets, and
hatswere undertaken to exchange
these items for sago biscuit, fruit,
canoes, and timber
Traditionally sago biscuit was
exported by both inland and coastal
villages and of Malay traders from
Brunei and elsewhere

Industrial Arts
In

the cottage industry most of

the necessary equipment was
made locally or acquired through
the intrariverine trade. Ironwork
and weaving ceased with the
advent of a cash economy at the
end of the nineteenth century.

Melanau Religion

While originally animists, the majority of the

Melanaus are now Muslim, although some of them,
especially among the Melanau Mukah, and Dalat are
Christian. Nonetheless, many still celebrate
traditional rites such as the annual Kaul Festival.
Despite their different beliefs and religions, the
Melanaus, like other East Malaysians (Sabah and
Sarawak) are very tolerant of each other and are
proud of their tolerance. One can still come across a
Melanau family with different children in the family
embracing Christianity and Islam while their parents
still have strong animist beliefs.

Religious Belief

In 1980 53,689 Melanau were Sunni Muslim, 8,486 were Christian, 1,749
were tribal, 5,328 were listed as having no religion (but were probably all
tribal), and 326 were listed as miscellaneous. For Muslims, Christians, and
tribals alike, the world consists of this, the middle world, the upper world
(the sky), and the world below. Traditionally the world was egg-shaped,
seven layers or worlds above and seven below the middle world, the
whole being balanced on the head of a buffalo standing on a snake, all
surrounded by water. The breathing of the buffalo caused the ebb and flow
of the tides. For some people the land of the dead was an underworld;
others thought it elsewhere, but did not know where. Its topography was
exact, but differed for Muslims, whose view was shared by Christians.

For Muslims, Christians, and tribals alike, the world, the sun, the moon,
and the stars were created by Alla-taala, but how is not known. He is

remote and little interested in human affairs. All "layers" of the

world are inhabited by spirits ( tou ), who, together with humans,
animals, and plants, share this middle world. Every being has its
own proper place in the world, which is ordered by adat.
Overstepping boundaries causes trouble, and most human illness
is caused by trespassing on some spirit's living space. Spirits are
of many kinds: earth, air, water, forest, etc. Sometimes they are
referred to as ipu', who are less malevolent than tou, and may
indeed be invited to reside in and protect dwellings.
Supernaturals live on the moon and punish disorderly and
disrespectful behavior by men, especially mockery of animals. A
female guards the entrance to the land of the dead. People are
reluctant to call such supernaturals "tou" or "ipu'," but no other
term exists for such demigods. Muslims and some pagans call
them melaikat.

Religious Practitioners

No pagan priests exist. Expert carvers of spirit images, or

bilum, diagnose what spirit (sometimes also called "bilum"
and not "tou") is likely to have caused an illness and, in a
short ceremony, forces the spirit into its carved image so that
it may be taken to its proper place and forbidden to harm the
patient for at least three days. Spirit mediums, with the help
of familiar spirits, also cure illness and practice divination.
Every village, Muslim and tribal alike, holds an annual
cleansing ceremony, kaul, to call uninvited spirits that have
taken up residence in the village to a feast before they are
sent home to their proper places

Festival
KAUL IS A TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATED BY THE MELANAU
COMMUNITY LIVING ALONG THE COAST AREA IN SARAWAK. IN THE PAST,
KAUL WAS HELD AS A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY TO APPEASE THE SPIRITS OF
THE SEA, LAND, FOREST AND FARM MAKING IT THE MOST IMPORTANT
FESTIVAL IN THE MELANAU TRADITIONAL CALENDER.
THE FESTIVAL IS A RITUAL OF PURIFICATION AND THANKSGIVING AS WELL
AS ONE OF THE PROPITIATION FOR GOOD FORTUNE. TODAY, IT IS MORE OF
KEEPING A HERITAGE ALIVE. ITS MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE MELANAU
CALENDER. KAUL TAKES PLACE IN THIRD WEEK OF THE MONTH OF APRIL
EVERY YEAR.
DURING THE WEEK-LONG FESTIVAL, ACTIVITIES INCLUDE STALLS SELLING
TRADITIONAL FOODS, ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS, TRADITIONAL GAMES.
THE HIGHLIGHT WILL BE THE SERAHANG (DECORATED FLAT ROUND
BASKET MADE FROM SAGO LEAF WHICH RAISE ON A BAMBOO POLE)
PROCESSION LEAD BY LOCAL MELANAU COMMUNITY ELDERS.
SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES NOT TO BE MISSED INCLUDE PLAYINGTHE
GIANT SWING (TIBOW) AND ENJOYING MELANAU TRADITIONAL FOOD
SERVED ON THE LOG (KEMAN BAW BATENG ALSO KNOWN AS MAKAN
BERADAT IN MALAY).