Lun Bawang
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The Lun Bawang (formerly known as Trusan Murut or Southern Murut) is an ethnic group found in Central Northern
Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and ea ...
. They are indigenous to the southwest of
Sabah Sabah () is a state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indonesia to the south. The Federal Territory o ...
(
Interior Division The Interior Division ( ms, Bahagian Pedalaman) is an administrative division of the state of Sabah, Malaysia. It occupies the southwest portion of Sabah, bordered by the neighbouring state of Sarawak on its west. With an area of 18,298 square ki ...
), and the northern region of
Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
(
Limbang Division Limbang Division is one of the twelve administrative divisions of Sarawak, Malaysia. It has a total area of 7,788.50 square kilometres, and is the fourth largest division after Kapit Division, Miri Division and Bintulu Division. Limbang Divisio ...
), highlands of North Kalimantan ( Krayan,
Malinau The town of Malinau is one of the districts of Malinau Regency in North Kalimantan Province of Indonesia and is also the administrative capital of the Regency. The latest official estimate of population (as at mid 2021) was 27,140.Badan Pusat Stat ...
, Mentarang, and Long Bawan),
Brunei Brunei ( , ), formally Brunei Darussalam ( ms, Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: , ), is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its South China Sea coast, it is completely surrounded by t ...
( Temburong District). In the Malaysian state of Sarawak, the Lun Bawang (through the term ''Murut'') are officially recognised by the Constitution as a native of Sarawak and are categorised under the Orang Ulu people; whilst in the neighbouring state of Sabah and Krayan highland in Kalimantan, they are sometimes named ''Lundayeh'' or ''Lun Daye''. In Brunei, they are also identified by law as one of the 7 natives (
indigenous people Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...
) of Brunei, through the term ''Murut''. Nevertheless, in Sabah, Kalimantan, and Brunei, the term Lun Bawang is gaining popularity as a unifying term for this ethnicity across all regions. There are also other alternative names such as Lun Lod, Lun Baa', and Lun Tana Luun. Lun Bawang people are traditionally agriculturalists and practise animal husbandry such as rearing
poultry Poultry () are domesticated birds kept by humans for their eggs, their meat or their feathers. These birds are most typically members of the superorder Galloanserae (fowl), especially the order Galliformes (which includes chickens, quails, ...
,
pigs The pig (''Sus domesticus''), often called swine, hog, or domestic pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus '' Sus'', is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is variously considered a subspecies of ''Sus ...
, and buffaloes. Lun Bawangs are also known to be hunters and fisherman.


Etymology

The word Lun Bawang means ''people of the country'' or ''native people'', whilst Lun Dayeh means ''upriver people'' or ''people of the interior'' or '' Orang Ulu'' and Lun Lod means ''people living downriver or near the sea''. Other names are derived from geographical reference to their rice cultivation, for example, Lun Baa' (swamps) who lives near swampy areas and grow wet rice, and Lun Tana' Luun (on the land) who cultivates dry rice. While insisting that they never called themselves ''Murut'', the Lun Bawangs were formerly identified as ''Murut'' by the
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
colonists and by outsiders (other ethnic groups). In Lun Bawang language, the word ''Murut'' either means 'to massage' or 'to give dowry', and these meanings have little or no relation at all to the identity of the people. The name Murut might have been derived from the word "Murud", a mountain located near an old Lun Bawang settlement, hence might have just meant 'mountain men' or ' hill people' but was instead used by the colonist to identify this ethnic group. In addition to that, ethnologist found that the classification under the name Murut is confusing as the term is used differently in Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei, that is whilst in Brunei and Sarawak it is used to describe the Lun Bawang people, in Sabah it is used to identify an ethnic group that is linguistically and culturally different from the Lun Bawangs.Pelita Brunei – Sastera dan Budaya
In the early 1970s, the use of the term ''Lun Bawang'' began to gain popularity amongst ethnologists and linguists, and it is now the most commonly used term to identify this ethnic group. In Sarawak, the decision to replace the term 'Murut' with 'Lun Bawang' to identify this ethnic group was made unanimously by Lun Bawang community leaders, and the official usage of this term is now legally binding following the passing of Interpretation Act by Sarawak's Legislative Assembly in 2002.


Origin

The Lun Bawangs made up of one of the ethnic natives that occupied Borneo Island for centuries. According to Tom Harrisson (1959) and S. Runciman (1960), the Lun Bawang community is one of the earlier settlers in the mountainous regions of central Borneo and they are related to the Kelabit tribe. Both tribes are linked to a common lineage termed the ''Apo Duat'' or "Apad Uat" people, of which ''Apo Duat'' is the area consisting of the Krayan highland and
Kelabit Highlands The Kelabit Highlands are a mountain range located in the northernmost part of Sarawak, Malaysia in the Miri Division. It hosts the Bario village. The highest mountains in this range are Mount Murud at , Bukit Batu Buli at , and Bukit Batu Lawi at ...
. One theory suggests that Apo Duat is the homeland of this common ancestor and that they have expanded out to the coastal area. The migration of these people to the low lands and gradual spreading out might have been spurred by various waves of migration of the Lun Bawang people from different clans. The migration of Lun Bawang people from one clan to a region already inhabited by another clan, causes the latter to move to another region, despite them having a similar culture and language. The strong clan identity of the Lun Bawang people is shown by their common tradition of identifying themselves based on their village or geographical location, for example, 'Lun Adang' who once resides in the Adang river basin or 'Lun Kemaloh' who comes from the Kemaloh river. One other theory suggests that these Apo Duat people were once natives of old Brunei, but were pushed upriver into the highlands by the invading tribes such as Kayan,
Kenyah The Kenyah people are an indigenous, Austronesian-speaking people of Borneo, living in the remote Baram Lio Matoh, Long Selaan, Long Moh, Long Anap, Long Mekaba, Long Jeeh, Long Belaong, Long San, Long Silat, Long Tungan, Data Kakus ...
, and Iban people. The ones that remained downriver (Lun Bawang people) were isolated from the ones who migrated to the highlands (Kelabit), causing their culture and language to slightly diverged. Another theory, on the other hand, suggests that the migration originated from the opposite side of Borneo (now
East Kalimantan East Kalimantan ( Indonesian: ) is a province of Indonesia. Its territory comprises the eastern portion of Borneo. It had a population of about 3.03 million at the 2010 census (within the current boundary), 3.42 million at the 2015 census, and 3 ...
). It was suggested that the Apo Duat people were once farmers in the lowlands downstream of the
Malinau The town of Malinau is one of the districts of Malinau Regency in North Kalimantan Province of Indonesia and is also the administrative capital of the Regency. The latest official estimate of population (as at mid 2021) was 27,140.Badan Pusat Stat ...
river, living closely with the Tidong people. However, attacks by Muslim raiders ( Bugis and Tausug) probably in the 17th century, caused them to migrate to the Krayan highlands, whilst the Tidong people converted to Islam. Nevertheless, these theories have yet to be proven and there is no substantial evidence to trace the origin of the Lun Bawang people or to prove any of these theories.


History


Relations with the Kingdom of Brunei

According to Brunei oral tradition, the Lun Bawangs (Murut) were brought under the rule of the Brunei kingdom by peaceful measures during the reign of Awang Alak Betatar. This is said to be accomplished through dealings between the Lun Bawang and Awang Alak Betatar's brother, Awang Jerambok. Under the rule of the Brunei kingdom, the Lun Bawang were subject to taxes and tribute. The local leaders from the higher class (''lun mebala'' or ''lun do) were appointed titles of nobility and were granted an office in the sultanate. Some Lun Bawang were assimilated into Malay culture. Lun Bawang community located near the Brunei capital was firmly integrated into the Brunei polity. Awang Alak Betatar and his 13 brothers were the founding fathers of Brunei, and are believed to be half Muruts, as they had a common Murut father by the name of Upai Semaring or Awang Semaun. These 14 saudaras or 14 brothers are Kelabit (Murut) and their followers were early "empire builders" of Brunei. Lun Bawangs and Kelabits (Muruts) are of royal descent from the House of Bolkiah, as they use titles such as Dayang, Sultan, Agong, and
Pengiran The Malay language has a complex system of styles, titles and honorifics which are used extensively in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the southern Philippines. Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and several provinces in Indones ...
, names used by their ancestors in the past. Nevertheless, the peace dealing between the Lun Bawang and the Brunei Malay rulers was by no means everlasting as throughout the history of Brunei sultanate, the Lun Bawang had often rebelled against its Brunei ruler. It has been suggested that the insurrection of the Maruts (''sic'') - i.e. the Lun Bawangs - and Chinese had led to the Brunei Sultan requesting assistance from the Sulu sultanate to suppress the rebellion in 1658, which resulted in the Brunei Sultan ceding his territory of Kimanis until Tapean Durian to the
Sultan of Sulu The Sultanate of Sulu ( Tausūg: ''Kasultanan sin Sūg'', كاسولتانن سين سوڬ; Malay: ''Kesultanan Sulu''; fil, Sultanato ng Sulu; Chavacano: ''Sultanato de Sulu/Joló''; ar, سلطنة سولك) was a Muslim state that ruled ...
as a sign of gratitude.


Lun Bawangs with Europeans settlement

Early Europeans used the exonym ''Maroot'', ''Marut'', ''Morut,'' or ''Murut'' to describe the Lun Bawang people, and this might have been introduced by the Brunei Malays who came in contact with them in Brunei. The earliest European written account of the Lun Bawang people is probably by Thomas Forrest during his voyage to New Guinea, the Moluccas, and Balambangan in 1776. He described that the Borneans (''sic'' - i.e. Bruneians -) tended to preclude the Chinese or European from directly dealing with the Maroot in trade, reserving the trade (as middlemen) to themselves. In John Hunt's ''Sketch of Borneo or Pulo Kalamantan'' in 1812, he described the Lun Bawangs as aborigines of Borneo proper, and that they are much fairer and better featured than the Malays, having a stronger and robust frame and are credited as a brave race of people. Europeans have also obtained the description of the Lun Bawang from Brunei Malays who came in contact with them. For example, during the voyage of the American '' Himmaleh'' to Brunei, Brunei noblemen (''pangeran'') reported that there are 21 tribes in Brunei - Murut being one of them - and that these tribes are ''kafir'' (do not practice Islam) and practices
headhunting Headhunting is the practice of hunting a human and collecting the severed head after killing the victim, although sometimes more portable body parts (such as ear, nose or scalp) are taken instead as trophies. Headhunting was practiced in h ...
. During
Henry Keppel Admiral of the Fleet The Honourable Sir Henry Keppel (14 June 1809 – 17 January 1904) was a Royal Navy officer. His first command was largely spent off the coast of Spain, which was then in the midst of the First Carlist War. As commanding off ...
's expedition to Borneo, he noted that the Lun Bawang are the inhabitants of the Borneo interior and that the Murut and Dyak people had given place to Kayan people whenever they are in contact with each other.
Sir James Brooke Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak (29 April 1803 – 11 June 1868), was a British soldier and adventurer who founded the Raj of Sarawak in Borneo. He ruled as the first White Rajah of Sarawak from 1841 until his death in 1868. Brooke was b ...
in his journal written on 24 December 1850, described the oppression that the Lun Bawang (then called Limbang Muruts) people faced by Brunei aristocrats, and where some had fought against this tyranny. A more elaborate European account of the Lun Bawang people is by Spenser St. John in 1860, where he described the impoverished condition of the Lun Bawang (then called Limbang Muruts) people under the rule of the Brunei Sultanate. He also gave an account of the aborigines (Murut and
Bisaya Visayans ( Visayan: ''mga Bisaya''; ) or Visayan people are a Philippine ethnolinguistic group or metaethnicity native to the Visayas, the southernmost islands of Luzon and a significant portion of Mindanao. When taken as a single ethnic group, ...
) rise to insurrection. However, these rebellions were always suppressed by threats from the Brunei government to bring in Kayans to subdue the opposition. Spenser St.John also described the tyranny conducted by the Brunei aristocrats upon the Limbang Muruts, which include seizing their children to be sold as slaves if taxes were not paid, and on one occasion, when the Brunei capital was in a state of alarm by the marauding Kayan warriors, the Brunei aristocrat offered a whole Limbang Murut village to be pillaged, in return for the safety of the capital.


Culture and economic activities

Almost all of the traditional economical activities of the Lun Bawang and are related to rice plantation, and they cultivate both rice on a hill called ''lati' tana' luun'' and rice from a paddy field called ''lati' ba''. The production of rice is related to ones' prestige/financial status, as an excess of rice harvest is traditionally consumed in huge ''irau'' feast, signifying wealth and fortune. Cooked rice is wrapped inside banana leaves called ''Luba' Laya'', and rice is also brewed into rice wine or ''burak'' for practical reasons. Partly due to this, drinking ''burak'' had been an important (and also notorious, as is deemed by the Christian missionaries and the Brooke government) custom of the Lun Bawangs, but now the rice wine production has significantly dwindled due to effort done by the Christian missionaries and Brooke government to encourage prohibition of alcohol amongst the community in the early 20th century. Meat and fish are brined or pickled using salt and are stored in hollow bamboo stalk for a month and the pickled food is called ''telu' ''. Meat and fish are also preserved by smoking. Salt is obtained by evaporating brine from salt spring (''lubang mein''). Cattle and buffaloes are bred for their meat and can serve as a symbol of financial status. These animals are commonly used as
dowry A dowry is a payment, such as property or money, paid by the bride's family to the groom or his family at the time of marriage. Dowry contrasts with the related concepts of bride price and dower. While bride price or bride service is a payment ...
that is presented to the bride's family from the groom's side. In the old days, the men wear jackets made of tree barks called ''kuyu talun''. Cloth wrapped around the forehead is called ''sigar'' and loincloth is called ''abpar''. A long
machete Older machete from Latin America Gerber machete/saw combo Agustín Cruz Tinoco of San Agustín de las Juntas, Oaxaca">San_Agustín_de_las_Juntas.html" ;"title="Agustín Cruz Tinoco of San Agustín de las Juntas">Agustín Cruz Tinoco of San ...
(''pelepet'') is tied to the waist, especially when it needs to be carried to tribal wars. As for the women, they wear ''pata'' on their head, ''beret'' on their waist, ''bane'' around the neck, and ''gileng'' or ''pakel'' is worn as ornaments on their hands and wrists. "Pata", or cap made entirely of bead, is worn as a status symbol. The Lun Bawang belong to a group termed as Nulang Arc group (Metcalf 1975). This, along with other ethnicities such as the Berawans, the
Melanaus Melanau or ''A-Likou'' (meaning River people in Mukah dialect) is an ethnic group indigenous to Sarawak, Malaysia. They are among the earliest settlers of Sarawak. They speak in the Melanau language, which is a part of the North Bornean branch ...
, and the Kajangs traditionally practised an ancient tradition of secondary treatment of the dead. In Lun Bawang, this is called ''mitang butung''. Metcalf theorised that this practice is a characteristic of the most ancient cultural tradition in Borneo, before the arrival of other invading ethnics that influenced the diversification of culture and language in Borneo.


Language

The Lun Bawangs called their language ''Buri Lun Bawang'' or ''Buri tau'', ''our language''. The language is classified under Austronesian > Western Malayo-Polynesian > North Bornean > North Sarawak > Dayic (Apo Duat/Apad Uat) family.


Lun Bawang Cuisine

* ''Nuba Laya'' is cooked bario rice which is mashed and wrapped in leaves of the phacelophrynium maximum plant. It is considered the centerpiece of a meal for the Lun Bawang and Kelabit people. 9Accompaniments may include a small bowl of porridge (kikid), shredded beef cooked with wild ginger and dried chilli (labo senutuq), deboned shredded fish (a'beng), wild jungle vegetables prepared in various ways, and so on. * '' Daun ubi tumbuk'' or ''pucuk ubi tumbuk'' is a preparation of cassava leaves (known as ''empasak'' by the Iban) which has the consistency of pesto, and is widely eaten among Sarawak's native communities. The pounded leaves may be sauteed with seasonings like anchovies and chilli, stuffed into a bamboo tube and roasted over an open fire, or simply boiled with shallot, fat and salt. * ''Kelupis Lun Bawang'' (which literally translates to 'glutinous rice rolls' in English).It also create this kelupis especially on the wedding ceremony. * ''Sinamu Baka'' is a Lun Bawang/Lundayeh traditional food. This is a tangy fermented food same like Bosuo but the differences is Sinamu Baka only suitable for wild bear meat. * ''Narar Baka'' refers to Lun Bawang/Lundayeh style smoked meat, which is usually wild boar or baka. Barbecued on a char grill and eaten with rice and dipping sauces, narar baka can be found and purchased in rural areas and towns. Halal versions substitute wild boar for other game meats like deer


Festivals and celebrations

Lun Bawang people celebrate ''Irau Aco Lun Bawang'' (Lun Bawang festival) annually on the first of June in
Lawas Lawas ( ms, Pekan Lawas) is a small town and the capital of Lawas District, Limbang Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. This district area is 3,811.90 square kilometres, and population (year 2020 census) was 46,200. It is 1,200 km from the state ...
,
Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
. This festival is traditionally a celebration of the rice harvest, but now it showcases a variety of Lun Bawang culture and events such as ''Ruran Ulung'' (beauty pageant contest) and ''ngiup suling'' (bamboo musical instrument band). In
Sipitang Sipitang ( ms, Pekan Sipitang) is the capital of the Sipitang District in the Interior Division of Sabah, Malaysia. Its population was estimated to be around 4,298 in 2010. It is the closest town in Sabah to the Sarawak border, and is 44 kil ...
district of
Sabah Sabah () is a state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indonesia to the south. The Federal Territory o ...
, Sabahan Lun Bawangs and Lundayeh celebrates the harvest festival (
Kaamatan Kaamatan or Pesta Kaamatan is a form of harvest festival celebrated on 30 and 31 of May annually in the state of Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan in Malaysia. It is normally celebrated by the ethnic Kadazan-Dusuns, as well as by other ...
) biennially during the Festival of GATA (''Gasing and Tamu Besar''), during which traditional dances and costumes are being showcased along with those of other native ethnics in the district such as the Murut,
Kedayan The Kedayan (also known as Kadayan, Kadaian or Kadyan) are an ethnic group residing in Brunei, Federal Territory of Labuan, southwest of Sabah, and north of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. According to the Language and Literature Bureau of B ...
and
Brunei Malay The Brunei Malay language, or Kedayan (, Jawi: ) is the most widely spoken language in Brunei and a lingua franca in some parts of Sarawak and Sabah, such as Labuan, Limbang, Lawas, Sipitang and Papar.Clynes, A. (2014). Brunei Malay: An Ove ...
people. Being a predominantly Christian community, Lun Bawang also since the 1950s traditionally celebrates "Irau Rayeh", which is an
Easter Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the '' Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samuel ...
festival and celebration.


Religion

Lun Bawangs were mostly animist before the 1920s. Under the rule of the
White Rajahs The White Rajahs were a dynastic monarchy of the British Brooke family, who founded and ruled the Raj of Sarawak, located on the north west coast of the island of Borneo, from 1841 to 1946. The first ruler was Briton James Brooke. As a reward ...
(
Vyner Brooke Vyner, Rajah of Sarawak, GCMG, full name Charles Vyner de Windt Brooke (26 September 1874 – 9 May 1963) was the third and last White Rajah of the Raj of Sarawak. Early life The son of Charles Brooke and his wife Margaret de Windt ( Ranee Ma ...
) in Sarawak, Christian missionaries (particularly of the Borneo Evangelical Mission) had better accessibility to the Lun Bawang settlements in the interior and highlands and proceeded to preach Christianity to the Lun Bawang people. The majority of the Lun Bawangs are Christians, predominantly of the Borneo Evangelical Church. A small number are of other Christian denominations, such as
True Jesus Church The True Jesus Church (TJC) is a non-denominational Christian Church that originated in Beijing, China, during the Pentecostal movement in the early twentieth century. The True Jesus Church is currently one of the largest Christian groups in Ch ...
, the
Seventh-day Adventist Church The Seventh-day Adventist Church is an Adventist Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week in the Christian (Gregorian) and the Hebrew calendar, as the Sabbath, and ...
, the
Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, or of another religion, such as
Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
and
Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
.


Standard of living

Before the rule of the White Rajahs, the Lun Bawang tribe was in a deplorable state; frequently involved in tribal wars, headhunting, and excessive alcohol consumption. The Lun Bawang tribe was often a victim of political manipulation by the Sultanate of Brunei. For example they were used as sacrifice for the marauding Kayan people who threaten to attack the Brunei capital in the 1860s. The low standard of living led to a severe outbreak of diseases (cholera and smallpox) amongst the community, and the population significantly dwindled to the point of near extinction in the 1920s. With the advent of Rajah rule and conversion to Christianity, the standard of living improved tremendously, as the missionaries introduced better healthcare, a sanitary system, and proper education system. The Lun Bawang were very zealous at school, and in 1940, about 95% of the Lun Bawang and related Kelabit tribe under 20s in Lawas Damit are literate. The
Borneo Evangelical Mission The Borneo Evangelical Mission was a Protestant Evangelical Christian missionary society that worked among the people of Borneo, Malaysia. It was founded in October 1928 by three Australian missionaries, Hudson Southwell (Baptist), Frank Dav ...
movement has played a major role in the social and economic development of the Lun Bawang community, especially in educating the people on the importance of education and health, also in maintaining peace between Lun Bawang people and those from other ethnic living nearby. Whilst many Lun Bawangs attained a higher level of education in nearby towns such as
Lawas Lawas ( ms, Pekan Lawas) is a small town and the capital of Lawas District, Limbang Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. This district area is 3,811.90 square kilometres, and population (year 2020 census) was 46,200. It is 1,200 km from the state ...
,
Limbang Limbang is a border town and the capital of Limbang District in the Limbang Division of northern Sarawak, East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. This district area is 3,978.10 square kilometres, and population (year 2020 census) was 56,900. I ...
, and
Miri ) , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = State , subdivision_name1 = , subdivision_type2 = Division , subdivision_name2 ...
, and in Sabah,
Sipitang Sipitang ( ms, Pekan Sipitang) is the capital of the Sipitang District in the Interior Division of Sabah, Malaysia. Its population was estimated to be around 4,298 in 2010. It is the closest town in Sabah to the Sarawak border, and is 44 kil ...
and
Beaufort Beaufort may refer to: People and titles * Beaufort (surname) * House of Beaufort, English nobility * Duke of Beaufort (England), a title in the peerage of England * Duke of Beaufort (France), a title in the French nobility Places Polar regions ...
; and subsequently furthering their studies in the state capitals or in Peninsular Malaysia, there is still relatively little development of schools in Lun Bawang settlement in the interior, such as
Long Pasia Long Pasia is a village in Sipitang District, Sabah. Long Pasia is a home town of Lun Bawang/Lun Dayeh tribes and has a population of about 1,000 people, and all of them are Christians of Borneo Evangelical Church (SIB). It is located about s ...
or
Ba' Kelalan Ba'kelalan is a group of nine villages at Maligan Highlands of Limbang Division, Sarawak, Malaysia about above sea level and 4 km from the border with Indonesian Kalimantan and 150 km from the nearest town of Lawas. There are nine ...
. Therefore, many Lun Bawang youth in the interior travel a distance from their home to pursue education, sometimes via river transport or gravel road. Job intake in some of the main industries in Sabah and Sarawak, such as oil and gas and palm oil industry remains relatively small, and some are still involved in subsistence farming and fishing. However, with continued efforts, many of them managed to become professionals. A 2011 statistics have shown that there are around 233 graduates amongst the Lun Bawang community in Sarawak.


Notable people


Sarawak

*
Henry Sum Agong Dato Henry Sum Agong (born 18 February 1946) is a Malaysian politician who served as the Deputy Minister of Transport in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and former Minister Wee Ka Sion ...
from
Lawas Lawas ( ms, Pekan Lawas) is a small town and the capital of Lawas District, Limbang Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. This district area is 3,811.90 square kilometres, and population (year 2020 census) was 46,200. It is 1,200 km from the state ...
,
Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
- The Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Former Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism of Malaysia and incumbent Member of the
Parliament of Malaysia The Parliament of Malaysia ( ms, Parlimen Malaysia) is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives, Literal translation, lit. "People's A ...
for Lawas constituency (P222 Lawas). *
Baru Bian Baru Bian (born 9 September 1958) is a Malaysian politician. He has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Selangau since May 2018 and Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Ba'kelalan since April 2011. He also had se ...
from Lawas,
Sarawak Sarawak (; ) is a state of Malaysia. The largest among the 13 states, with an area almost equal to that of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak is located in northwest Borneo Island, and is bordered by the Malaysian state of Sabah to the northeast, ...
- former Minister of Works, member of the Sarawak State Assembly for
Ba'kelalan Ba'kelalan is a group of nine villages at Maligan Highlands of Limbang Division, Sarawak, Malaysia about above sea level and 4 km from the border with Indonesian Kalimantan and 150 km from the nearest town of Lawas. There are nine v ...
(N81 Ba'kelalan) and member of the
Parliament of Malaysia The Parliament of Malaysia ( ms, Parlimen Malaysia) is the national legislature of Malaysia, based on the Westminster system. The bicameral parliament consists of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives, Literal translation, lit. "People's A ...
for Selangau consistency (P214
Selangau (federal constituency) Selangau is a federal constituency in Sibu Division ( Selangau District), Mukah Division ( Mukah District) and Bintulu Division (Tatau District), Sarawak, Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal con ...
)


Sabah

* Ronny Harun from
Long Pasia Long Pasia is a village in Sipitang District, Sabah. Long Pasia is a home town of Lun Bawang/Lun Dayeh tribes and has a population of about 1,000 people, and all of them are Christians of Borneo Evangelical Church (SIB). It is located about s ...
,
Sipitang Sipitang ( ms, Pekan Sipitang) is the capital of the Sipitang District in the Interior Division of Sabah, Malaysia. Its population was estimated to be around 4,298 in 2010. It is the closest town in Sabah to the Sarawak border, and is 44 kil ...
- A professional footballer for Malaysia under-23 team from 2003 until 2006. He played in
2006 Asian Games 6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number. In mathematics Six is the smallest positive integer which is neither a square number nor a prime number; it is the second small ...
, 2004 Olympic Games qualifier, 2003 SEA Games and 2005 SEA Games and currently is the captain for
Sarawak FA Sarawak FA State Football Team ( ms, Pasukan Bola Sepak Negeri Sarawak) was a defunct football team which represented the Malaysian region (formerly state) of Sarawak from 1974 to 2020 in the Malaysian football league. It was one of the 14 Mal ...
. He is one of 10
ASEAN ASEAN ( , ), officially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, militar ...
players given the title
AFF #REDIRECT AFF Aff comes from Brazil and comes from the great general Barbaros Kee. it comes from that he often used to say Aff when he did something. {{R from other capitalisation ...
Best XI for the year 2016.https://english.stadiumastro.com/football/ronny-harun-named-aff-best-xi-59742 * Mafry Balang from Sipitang, Sabah - Former Malaysian football player for
Sabah FA Sabah Football Club ( ms, Kelab Bolasepak Sabah) is a football club with ownership by Sabah Football Club Sdn Bhd. The football club competes in Malaysia's football league representing the state of Sabah in Borneo. They currently compete in M ...
,
Malacca FA Melaka United Football Club () was a defunct Malaysian professional football club based in Malacca that competes in the Malaysia Super League. They were owned by Kenteam Sdn Bhd which is one of nitrile glove producer in Malaysia. Previously, th ...
and
Kelantan FA Kelantan Football Club ( ms, Kelab Bola Sepak Kelantan) is a Malaysian professional football club based in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. The club plays in the Malaysia Super League, the top tier of Malaysian football since 2023. Founded in 1946, the ...
. He is currently the captain for
Penang FA Penang Football Club (or simply known as Penang FC) is a Malaysian professional football club based in George Town, Penang, that competes in the Malaysia Super League. Unofficially founded in 1920, officially as Football Association of Pena ...
team. * Maxsius Musa from
Keningau Keningau ( ms, Pekan Keningau) is the capital of the Keningau District in the Interior Division of Sabah, Malaysia. It is the fifth-largest town in Sabah, as well one of the oldest. Keningau is between Tambunan and Tenom. The town had an es ...
, Sabah - Malaysian football player for
Sabah FA Sabah Football Club ( ms, Kelab Bolasepak Sabah) is a football club with ownership by Sabah Football Club Sdn Bhd. The football club competes in Malaysia's football league representing the state of Sabah in Borneo. They currently compete in M ...
.


Brunei

* Fadlin Galawat from
Batu Apoi, Temburong Mukim Batu Apoi is a mukim in Temburong District, Brunei. It has an area of ; as of 2016, the population was 1,635. Name The mukim is named after Kampong Batu Apoi, one of the villages it encompasses. Geography The mukim is located in th ...
- Former professional football player for Brunei FA and
DPMM FC Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota Football Club (His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Brunei Football Club in English, commonly known as DPMM FC) is a professional football club based in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. The club played in the Brunei Pr ...
, winner of 1999
Malaysia Cup The Malaysia Cup ( ms, Piala Malaysia), formerly known as ''Malaya Cup'', is an annual association football, football tournament in Malaysia, held at the end of the calendar year. The cup was first held in 1921. Despite its prestige and popular ...
.


References

{{Portal bar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Society Ethnic groups in Indonesia Ethnic groups in Brunei Ethnic groups in Sarawak Ethnic groups in Sabah Headhunting Dayak people