SIBU: The Bagatan Penyarai Tatau Heritage Conservation Committee (JPWBPT) urged the authority concerned not to move the 200-year-old ‘Klirieng’ (tombstone) that was found in the Sungai Penyarai, Kakus, Tatau as to preserve the heritage of the Bagatan (Beketan) people in the area.
According to its chairman, Jaing Bubun yesterday seven longhouses in Kakus collectively were against the Klirieng being removed from its original place in Musken, Sungai Penyarai, Kakus, Tatau.
The seven longhouses are Rumah Kanyan, Rumah Lasok, Rumah Sebastian, Rumah Samun, Rumah Billy, Rumah James, and Rumah Nyuan in Penyasari, Tatau.
“We intend to help to preserve our Bagatan heritage in the Penyarai River and as the race that inherited the Penyarai area as well as all the heritage in the Penyarai area including all the ‘Klirieng’ found in the area from our ancestors, we strongly object to the ‘Klirieng’ being taken out of Penyarai.
“Instead we suggest that all the ‘Klirieng’ be preserved at a place prepared by the Bagatan, Penyasari,” he said.
He also noted that in terms of history, he also knows and is aware that the ‘Klirieng’ was made by the Tatau (Punan) people who proceeded to inhabit the place.
However, he said the Tatau people in an agreement with the Bagatan people had handed over the Penyarai area to the Bagatan people as well as all the heritage found in that area.
“We understand the government’s desire to help us on this matter, but the history of our Bagatan race and our relationship with the Tatau race must also be preserved in our area,” he stressed.
Jaing also noted that by conserving the ‘Klirieng’, the Penyarai area will also become a tourist attraction and it will further help the economy of the longhouse.
“If the ‘Klirieng’ is taken to another place, not only will they lose historical evidence in their area but also economic opportunities for tourism in this area.
“Therefore, we hope that our decision will be respected by the government and everyone else,” he added.
Meanwhile, JPWBPT led by Jaing had staged a demonstration protesting the relocation of the ‘Klirieng’ by installing fences and warning signs at the site where the ‘Klirieng’ was found in the hope that it will not be taken out from there.
For the record, the 6.7metre tombstone was found in the Musken area, Sungai Penyarai on October 16 last year.
It will be restored by the Sarawak Museum Department and the Sarawak Customs Council (MAIS) for the younger generation to see by moving it out of the river to a site to be determined later.
It is understood that the ‘Klirieng’ will be temporarily housed at the Tatau District Office before being moved to a permanent place later.
