KOTA KINABALU: A recent Kadazan-Dusun ritual involving the slaughter of animals in the interior Keningau district appears to be a ploy by some villagers to lay claim to part of a forest reserve, said Sabah Forest Department director Datuk Sam Mannan.
However, he said the authorities were not falling for the ruse.
“We believe the villagers are using culture to get the land alienated to them. This has been a forest reserve all the while,” he said yesterday.
He said the rituals at Sungai Lobou in Keningau on Aug 21 coincided with the World Indigenous People’s Celebration in nearby Sook on the same day.
Torn down: Some of the wooden structures demolished by Sabah Forestry Department personnel after the rituals at the forest reserve at Sungai Lobou in Keningau on Aug 21.
Mannan said the area where the rituals were carried out was a Class II management forest reserve where the department had been planting trees.
He said the department had been aware of the rituals and sent some 50 personnel to monitor the situation.
“When the villagers left, our staff removed the wooden structures that were illegally erected there,” said Mannan when asked about complaints made by Kadazan-Dusun bobolian or shaman Gimbun Pandikar.
The latter had accused the department of demolishing religious structures at the Sungai Lobou area after the thanksgiving ceremony to their guardian spirits on Aug 21.
Gimbun said the department had insulted the Dusun Lobou community by belittling their traditional beliefs.
On Thursday, Gimbun and Dusun Lobou elders Dahalan @ Ulin Abdullah, 56, village chief of Alab Lanas, and Duiee Gokur, 65, village chief of Simbuan Sook, lodged a report at the Keningau police station.
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Ritual houses torn down by Forestry Department
(from left to right) Gimbun, Dahlan and Duiee show copies of the police report.
KENINGAU: A bobolian or Kadazandusun shaman and two advocators of native customs have lodged a police report claiming that their place for conducting rituals had been destroyed by the Forestry Department.
Gimbun Pandikar, 69, the bobolian said a group of workers from the department pulled apart two houses of rituals for the Dusun Lobou sub-group on August 25.
The sacred locations in Sungai Lobou and Sungai Pio were founded by the people in the area generations ago to enable them to offer thanksgiving to guardian spirits according to their native belief.
Recently on August 20, believers erected structures in both places to hold special thanksgiving rites in conjunction with the World Indigenous People’s Celebration in Sook on August 21.
“Now, they have torn apart what we built and we feel insulted. It’s as though they belittle our native belief,” said Gimbun.
According to him, workers of the department used chainsaws and destroyed jars, bowls and other items used for rituals inside the structures.
These places for rituals are known as “pusagag” among the Dusun Lobou and are considered very sacred.
Gimbun was accompanied by Dahalan @ Ulin Abdullah, 56, village chief of Alab Lanas and Duiee Gokur, 65, village chief of Simbuan Sook.
Organising chairman of the World Indigenous People’s Celebration in Sook, Ukim @ Juhaidi Marindal, 41, agreed that the act was extreme and inconsiderate.
They all appeal to the government to act so that those responsible are dealt with appropriately.
the Forest Department should discuss with the villagers to find the best solution before decide to remove the wooden structures..
BalasPadamKenalah juga tengok keadaan. Jika tanah itu bukan milik mereka, maka pembuatan struktur di situ adalah haram. Jika tanah tersebut kepunyaan orang kampung, maka tidak patut merobohkan struktur tersebut.
BalasPadamapa pun, semoga pekara ini dapat diselesaikan dengan baik.
BalasPadamWhat the forest department did was rather disrespectful. They should have discuss with the villagers first.
BalasPadammake sure first before do something, like what the Forest Department do with the villagers land. hope the FD don't make a mistake about the Land. Discussion first before do something.
BalasPadampekara ini perlu diselesaikan dengan sebaiknya.
BalasPadamsiasat dan selesaikan perkara ini dgn baik.
BalasPadamThis should not happen.....the situation kind of the Avatar story....how i wish it will ending just like that...
BalasPadamThe land issue in Sabah is yet to be solved. I wonder when it will be the last resort.
BalasPadamMasalah tanah yang semakin runcing di Sabah harus dikendalikan oleh orang yang bertanggungjawab.
BalasPadamThe people in Sabah shouldn't be fooled by scams. Don't easily fall into prey.
BalasPadamJangan memperdagangkan tanah untuk kepentingan sendiri sahaja.Tidak hairan la banyak masalah timbul.
BalasPadamThe state government should keep in eye on those land issues. Don't make it worse.
BalasPadamWhy forest dept officers are not sensitive with this kind of issue that will stir up anger among the indigenous people?
BalasPadamsebelum mengambil tindakan, Jb Perhutanan patut membuat segala rundingan dan meumpul pandangan yang cukup dari pihak orang kampung.
BalasPadamInilah tindakan yang tidak menimbang akan akibat yang akan timbul. Apa perasaan pegawai yang bertanggung jawap atas tidakan atas jika rumah ibadat mereka diroboh?
BalasPadamNapa la hal sensitif jadi isu sejak kebelakangan ini? Berani betui depa ya. Jumpa ja ketua menteri
BalasPadam