Joyous sacred fest to honour the dead
I’ve found that festivals are a relatively painless way to meet people and make a few points that need making, without having to hit them over the head with too many speeches. — Pete Seeger, American singer A lot has been written on the Iban’s sacred and grandest festival, Gawai Antu, an event to commemorate […]
60 made homeless in longhouse blaze*updated
MIRI: A 12-door longhouse at Kampung Long Selaan Belukon, Hulu Baram, was destroyed by fire on Monday (June 8). The State Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) which received a distress call at 11.07am despatched a team of five firefighters to the scene. No casualties were reported. The longhouse has 60-odd residents. Except for 25 of […]
Longhouse in danger of falling into river
MIRI: A 13-door longhouse and two individual houses at Jalan Beluru in Lapok, Tinjar, Baram were yesterday hit by a landslip which left them on the verge of toppling down a nearby riverbank. Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief, Supt Law Poh Kiong, said after they were informed about the situation at 12.10pm a number […]
Quick action saves longhouse from fire
KUCHING: Quick action by a team of Sungai Buluh Bomba volunteers saved a 48-door longhouse at Sebuyau Ensengei Iban from being destroyed by fire last night. A Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) spokesman said firefighters received a distress call around 9.53pm. A team of volunteers was dispatched to the scene without delay. The fire was […]
It’s ‘Gawai dalam ati’ for Veronica and family
MIRI: ‘Gawai dalam ati kami’ (Gawai in our hearts). That’s Gawai Dayak this year for Veronica Rimong, an Iban lady in her 50’s from Rasau, Dalat. In the past, Veronica and her family would gather together for the festival but now, they can’t. They have to comply with the government’s standard operating procedures during the […]
Ibans working away give Gawai a miss
SIBU: Pictures of tuak (rice wine), ngajat (a dance) video clips and Iban songs have started to emerge on the Facebook pages of many Ibans, a clear indication that the harvest season has ended and the community is preparing to mark Hari Gawai on June 1. Usually, many of those working and living far away from home would return to their […]
Landslide cuts off access to longhouses
BETONG: A motorist escaped calamity in the nick of time when her pick-up truck almost plunged into a 30-foot crater caused by a landslide at Jalan Buai Melanjan, Ulu Padeh here early yesterday. “I am fortunate that someone helped. Otherwise, me and my vehicle might have slipped into the crater,” said Diana Janting, 44, who […]
Heavy rain floods longhouse
MIRI: Water levels at the Long Bemang longhouse in the Apoh, Baram region reached 1.6 feet due to heavy rain since Friday (May 1). “So far, no evacuations have been carried out for the 600 residents of the longhouse,” said Zone 6 Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) chief Supt Law Poh Kiong. Long Bemang, situated […]
Strong wind blows off longhouse roof
KAPIT: The roof of several rooms of a 26-door longhouse – Rumah Nading at Nanga Seladang, Gaa’t, Baleh near here, was blown off by strong wind Monday evening. Also affected were the store houses erected near the longhouse. Fortunately, no one was injured in the mishap although the affected rooms were exposed to the mercy […]
Merit longhouses receive face masks
KAPIT: Several longhouses in Merit area near here recently received face masks from Kapit District Office. District Officer Cerisologo Sabut accompanied by several of his administrative officers travelled by high powered speedboats passing through the treacherous Pelagus Rapids in Batang Rajang to distribute the face masks to the community at Nanga Merit sub district comprising […]
