Dying traditions in Malaysian Borneo - 19 Jan 08

[gilagame90]

waw. iban also got kulintangan like the dusun tribe in sabah. :)

[andyduum1]

they are not christian, they are church members only. true christian are not doing this.

[BorneoUnited]

@andyduum1,do more reseach Andydumb1 and think more real facts that u should face today.Would you believe if I said an Anglican Father follows the "Miring" ceremony?The Father and some Christian follower might follow the ritual but pray in Jesus way.Only Evangelical Christian dont do that,These Evangelical also killed all the dying art of LandDayak while Roman Catholic r more moderate in consider 2 maintain some ritual,so do Bahai religion.U go 2 rural area where all the antique jars r destroy

[nazifdaniel]

these dayak convert to christianity no different with their old tradition i think better they keep their old way of life instead of christianity.christianity is pagan import from rom while their tradition is pure from the jungle

[BorneoUnited]

@nazifdaniel ,well,it is also no different on imported paganic islamic religion who move around the big black box and kiss the meteoroid stone.Anyway,we Borneo love islam,becoz when we enter the "so called summit to whatever god",we are given a piece of land for house and cow for free.If we r lucky,we get to enter university 4 free and get government high-rank job as long as we pretend we convert to islam.It is just like giving out candy to small kid,so that they follow what u want.Damm Malaya

[MrJalenlen]

No body know bidayuh siburan well...there are very brave...bidayuh siburan using Biatah language...why dont u all go and disturb betang asar siburan so u will know how is yr life will...

[MrJalenlen]

bullshit!!! no muslim can look after the lands of dayak siburan...

[Humanist77]

wht to do...dayak politicians r only interested in making money at the expense of their community...im a dayak bidayuh as well..sad to see my own culture is going extinct at the expense of so call development..albeit not the sustainable one...

[ayotollah]

Our dayak only have politician and no expert or professional...we have a long way to go brother.

Politician make money and fight for their own greed. Engineers, Doctors, Lawyers, Artist, etc contribute to development of society. Politician only knows how to rip off peoples money

[BorneoUnited]

wow....my ancestor...Dayak Jagoi from kampung Opar

[ayotollah]

Wow...tih leh buak pinatong masa lalu takal odop tih aluok idip dk bung dolod. hehe...

[BorneoUnited]

ayotollah of Iran ka?hahaha

[ayotollah]

Idoh tih ayotollah of rock and rollah of WWE lol hahaha :D

[ayotollah]

Oni abar di kupuok opar ???

[BorneoUnited]

kupuo opar?errr...terbaru...agi surau di opar.hehehe...bidayeh trima hidayah.

[ayotollah]

Hahaha...jadi muu suak molot islam yeh hahahah?

[BorneoUnited]

hahahaha..ideh ku meret islam,asar bara kirieng yen ku duit n pangkat,ba uh ku meret.hehehe

[andyduum1]

@BorneoUnited think before you speak.

[Helltsunami79]

@andyduum1 ,what's the different between church members and true christian?What Christian practice Christmas tree decoration during Christmas tree?Isnt that pagan ritual before coming of Jesus teaching to Roman?Should devoted Christian abandon Christmas tree and just decorate the stable and put some black sheep and lamb for Xmas?Why is it should someone retain Xmas tree art to Christmas season?True Christian who follow bible shouldnt have Christmas tree and wine to get drunk.Not in the Bible.

[shademurtagh]

These traditions are absolutely useless.

It's like praying to a rock on a mountain-just because your ancestors were doing it doesn't mean it's even remotely true or correct.

[ayotollah]

It doesnt matter whether we pray to the rock or mountain...what matters most is to preserve the tradition that the earlier ancestor has established for us...it is meaningful to us. Maybe not you

[shademurtagh]

Even if they were in error? Even if they were completely false and doing something very wrong? Why then would you keep such a falsehood?

[ayotollah]

You call it error and completely false?? its simply ridiculous to assume it that way.

Our ancestor has live with it and relied on it for hundred of years and thank God bring us the new generation of these days

If you think it useless that is your self presumption. Because a tradition it create a society rules, regulation, and taboo so that we keep ourselves in common belief and be an integrated society.

How about your people what tradition do they got?? Tell us so we can learn from each other

[shademurtagh]

I need to tradition, I have Islam.

Islam is believe in one Allmighty, All Merciful Allah.

It is a universal religion, has nothing to do with ethnicity or ancestral traditions.

[BorneoUnited]

mr shademurtagh,i guess you better go to mecca and think about what u said just now and dont forget to kiss your big black box that u people look up at.

[BorneoUnited]

yeah....i agree with you,as you muslim throw stone in mecca and the truck from below are waiting to remove the stone and put it back for another batch of pilgrim to throw the stone again.that's were your ancestors were doing it doesn't mean it's even remotely true or correct.

[jamesbrain83]

@BorneoUnited hahaha...a good one to slam that shademurtagh.a word for you.Uyuok Bakok!

the muslim are always proud n demanding with themselves,same goes in Borneo.

[ayotollah]

Muahahahhahahahaaaa mak tiwas bih hahahahaha okuk towoh sape nog toin monapm muahuahauhauhauhau...

Oyuok kilowong kilioues lol sina nyoma nouh eh hahahahha

[empari81]

@BorneoUnited hahahaha. really?? so funny

[gabegilbert]

I thought it was a beautiful representation on the traditions and way of life of the Bidayuhs (my people!) but unfortunately the translation didn't do it any justice. I believe that Gawia Sowa is observed every year by every little village in Bau, and it is a good thing that the church has finally seperated this cultural celebration from religious beliefs. The harvest festival complements our faith in the church, and not otherwise.

[TheRed1210]

kona geh yeh show the good things bout our culture though its dying but we bisingai are proud that we have a yearly event at our Singai Redeems Centre for our Gawai Celebration

[aiklangkau]

People. It is sad to say this culture is about to perish forever. Yes. The last priestess did at my village 2 years ago. Since then, they will be no more ritual. I mean the original one.

Trust me, this culture almost perish but we need the mid age generation to assist in documenting all this for us. Besides, the younger generation like us actually love this culture and we want to prolong if not to maintain it.

[aiklangkau]

The Dayaks should see this as in different perspective. Not as a culture but rather an option for future income. Tourism pays better. Therefore if you have a boring 8-5 job, try to do it freelance before doing it full time. Also, the Government should actually start to assist.

[aiklangkau]

What I find interesting are

1. Our Dayak Politician arguing whether Dayaks include the orang ulu as well?

2. Some hardcore church ban members from attending such celebration. Roman catholic did ok, they try to maintain the culture without associating it with the metaphysic aspect

3. Do we still have Open House or celebration for Gawai?

Do not start an argument here. It is pointless. Our argument should be against the politician who are cashing in and making us look stupid.

[InternetRevolution]

It's not the only dying one...unfortunately.

[alamnirvana]

Dayak Bidayuh???

[Mohi]

To C-harris who dragged "Islam" or "muslim" into this video comments. You guys are such a dumb ass... To be honest, Al-jazeera is not

Pro-islam or Pro-Christian. This is hogwash. What I knw the good thing about Al-jazeera is they always back up the underdogs. yes, that right people. For example, their media backed up the Maori people, who actually indigenous people of NZ during the Uruwear raids. same goes with this issue, they back the "indigenous: people who were the underdogs.

[Sjovn]

I believe as a human being we have the choice of following a particular religion or not.

I may only be a half-Bidayuh (Singai, Bau side), but I don't think being a Christian = loss of identity for these people. Unless of course you think their entire identity depends on their religion. In this case I beg to differ.

[rustyanalog]

Very sad how the Bidayuh and other tribes have been Brainwashed by the Christian missionaries. Their beautiful culture & customs will eventually fade completely leaving these great people with no real identity of there own.

[meronz]

Of Conviction,dear..By the way, no one has the right to question other's belief. Besides, the modern waves is what throwing off people's identity. Not religion.

[SEmPUrai85]

u r wrong..religion do throwing off people's identity..when d iban, bidayuh n other tribe convert to islam, surely they will lost their indentity..they will be more like malay..its reality..only those who dun believe in islam but force to convert bcoz they married to a muslim will still hv their identity..will drinks rice wine..eat what our people foods..n do what our culture do..

[jedaqia]

No identity,rustya? I still can speak in Bidayuh. There are many reason why the old culture is fading & its not only due to the Catholics influence. The fact that we can't talk about our ancestor bcos talking bout them considered bringing bad luck or just rude is one reason not many the younger generations are not aware of older traditions. Don't worry bout Bidayuh; our identity is already in our blood.

[mambong]

omg... i knw this place.. located at bau kuching sarawak.. i thinks.. for the couple year to come only this 'kampung'(village)will hv their original traditional gawai ritual (for bidayuh ppl)... majority of the bidayuh ppl now converted to christian.. i kow coz am bidayuh too.. every gawai eve ppl will gatherd to this long house juz to experiance the traditional ceremony even they r not bidayuh... (that is the unique of the malaysian ppl..) like this vid so much...

[jedaqia]

wah...ogik nyaa dayak katik yeh? Karik okuk di Bidayuh Take. Things not that bad. No matter what we are still the people of the land. Tanak tok doyak tok. Kaki kaki tok parik kanok geh. Hope you can understand my bidayuh bau :-)

[Sabei0990]

No Muslim missonaries?

[meronz]

There is, dear. They came decades later. (^-^)

[CHarris360]

The gods? Make contact "with the gods"? Ah ha! Polytheists! Infidels! Convert or die!

[jaekent]

gods .. you better believe it. Read your bible .. and if you aren't too ignorant read the Quran, Torah, Kolbrin and the Book of the Dead. Educate yourself.

[CHarris360]

I've studied the Koran from cover to cover. You apparently know nothing about it. It is the Koran that labels polytheists as infidels. Surah 10.105, 15.94, 31.13, 48.6, and 98.6, to cite a few passages. The latter passage promises the "fire of hell" for polytheists and says they are the worst of men. "Kill them wherever you find them." Surah 2.191.

I do not believe it myself. But devout muslims do. And Al Jazeera is the "fair and

balanced" voice of the Muslim world.

[Daritto7117]

It wasn't made for "the muslim world" dumbass stop making everything about religion. It was ment for "everyone" in the Middle East you prjudice jerk!!

[CHarris360]

People who hurl insults instead of discussion do it because they have no argument.

The underlying premise of this news report is that polytheism is "dying". That's just want the muslim brotherhood wants you to believe. They wish they could say the same about Hindus, the most hated of all polytheists to Muslims. They can't so they went after these poor aboriginal tribespeople instead. Al Jazeera is the propaganda tool of the muslim brotherhood.

[Daritto7117]

People who make dumbfuck prjudice comments like "muslim world" can suck my dick bitch!!! go educate your self!?!?!

[CHarris360]

...taunting the tiger...you don't think he can get you...you could be in for a big surprise....

[Daritto7117]

again..you are welcome to sucking my Dick!?!

[shademurtagh]

Polytheism is dying whether Muslims encourage people to change or not.

Only Christianity and Islam(and previously buddhism) have the ability to convert masses. They are the only two centralized religions to be this succesful.

[PauloGVieira]

You are an idiot! You are certainly not Muslim!

Now go back to your Zionist meeting and tell them that you have failed!

[CHarris360]

Sticks and stones...

[kufik1]

If A-J espoused the kind of extremism, wouldn't the Bidayuh's progression into a modern "gambling and drinking" morally gray society be worse?

[kufik1]

I thought the tone of the program was more plaintive or mournful than anything. It did not relish the fact that the traditions were disappearing. The fact that they cared enough about the state of the tradition means that Al-Jazeera's writers believe they are valuable. If they believed that the old traditions were flawed, why devote any time for them? Why not allow Christianity and 'modernity' to silently consume them?

[moulinlolo]

Thank you, I'm catolic, but I appreciate indeed A-J to pay attention to people. Like here, I feel.

[Hazarestan]

mashalah, great people

[arifdesign]

salam...peace

i am malaysian....thanks aljazeera for showing the good ,bad or even the ugly about it...as long as you stick to the truth.

[TheRed1210]

agree with what u said..