Catatan
Mukah Melanau Heartland
Mukah Division was declared the Tenth Division on the 1St of March 2002 by the Chief Minister of Sarawak YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Ahdul Taib Mahmud With the establishment of the Mukah Division. it opens a new chapter in the Sarawak State administration machinery, and the development processes for the area that will be more rapid and organised.
The majority of the populations are the Melanaus. Most of the Melanau people build their houses on the shores or riverbanks. The Melanaus are famous for their unique culture and tradition, which can be seen during weddings, through conversations, local delicacies, traditional games and festivals. The most unique is that they live together peacefully with all other races or tribes, even though they are differs in dialects and religions.
Mukah used to be a trade centre and an important port during the times of the Brunei Sultanate Government in the mid 19th century. Mukah had direct trading with China, Singapore and the area around it. Time has changed and now other cities and ports such as Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri have taken over as a trade center.
The economy depends on the commercialized agricultural products and fisheries with tourism and industries being the new sectors, The main crops from commercialized farms are palm oil and rumbia (sago).
The division is accessible through air, road or river. Mukah has two airports but only cater for light carriers such as the Twin Otter or Donnier. Roads connect the administration center of Mukah Division with all districts and smaller districts except Belawai. Rivers are used as an alternative mode to all areas that are not accessible by road or air.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Lamin Dana is a “home” where the robust Melanau culture could continues to thrive. It is a combination of a visitors’ lodge and a cultural centre, hidden amongst the wooden houses of Kampung Tellian and delightfully situated beside a small river.Located at Kampung Tellian Tengah, 7 km from Mukah town and accessible by road of about 2 1/2 hours from Sibu, it is 30 minutes flying time by air (Twin Otter) from Sibu and 10 minutes driving from Mukah town.
Visitors’ can stay overnight at Lamin Dana at affordable cost. They are two family rooms for four persons in a room and 10 standard room for two person per room. For further inquiries Lamin Dana can be reached at 084-871543. Email: info@ lamindana.com or visit website at www.lamindana.com
Jerunei is a Melanau tomb for the royal and the rich, the royal people in the olden days. It was built out of a large solid tree trunk, provided with a chamber for the corpse and the periphery, beautifully carved with typical Melanau designs, commonly topped with a pineapple. The jerunei varied in height according to the person’s rank and wealth (Harriette Brodie).
The only Melanau Muslim longhouse that still exist until now, the building was built in 1872 and is located at Kampung Sok, Matu. For those who interested to visit this longhouse, they either can take drive from Mukah town or take a two hours express boat from Sibu to Daro. It is just 30 minutes drive by taxi or van from Daro.
Taman Tanjung Pedada is Kampung Tanjung on the opposite site of the Mukah river. The park is accessible by sampan from the Mukah town. This area also considered fire flies “territory”.
Umai is popularly known as “Malaysian sushi’. It is prepared from fresh local fish shredded into small flakes. The raw fish is marinated with lime, ginger, chili and a salt and normally served together with local sago delights. Toasted sago ‘balls' offer a textural contrast to the softness of the fish and blend together in a fabulously fresh and light treat.
Smoke prawn is a must buy product for the visitors if they visit this area. Seasonal dried food produce from fresh red prawn can be found in Belawai district. The market price is within RM6O to RM8O per kilogram.
Kampung Senau in Mukah has 10 Melanau homestay houses. You can get opportunity to participate the local community’s daily routine activities and enjoy the local Melanau foods here. For further detail, please contact Fisheries Association, Mukah at 084-871416 or e-mail at anail©yahoo.com
The Melanau fishing community celebrates the Kaul, which marks the beginning of the fishing season after the monsoon ends. Not to be missed is an amusing event called the ‘tibau’ where men and women compete to see how many can swing together at the end of a tong rope swing. Kaul is a traditional festival celebrated by the Melanau living along the coast of central Sarawak. The festival is a ritual of purification and thanksgiving as well as one for the propitiation of good fortune.It is celebrated at the end of the northeast monsoon and it marks the beginning of the Melanau New Year Come and experience the living legend of the coastal Melanau while savouring the uniqueness of the livelihood of these coastal dwellers of Sarawak.
The focus of the whole festival is the tibau or giant swing on which local youths defy danger as they swing in clusters high above the sand. Some locals claimed, at night when the beach is deserted, the tibau moves by itself as the ancestral spints get in the swing. Tibau aims to find out how many contestants can jump from a 20ft wooden scaffolding and cling on to a rope - at the same time.The tallest part is an inverted V-frame of two resilient hardwood poles. Four massive rattan cables ran from the apex to tether it to the ground, holding ft upright. Another rattan cable, looped at the end to form the swing, hung down from the apex to reach the ground by mere inches.
The tibau is completed by a wide, angled rack nearly three storeys high with rungs every metre or so. It doubled both as a grandstand and springboard for the game. No nails are used in a tibau frame, for the spirit believed to inhabit the tibau does not favour metal.
Sarawak just like the Malaysian State of Kelantan or Terengganu, also has its own ‘Songket'. This songket is originally produce by the local community at Kampung Rajang in Mukah Division. Kampung Rajang is located 10 KM from Tanjung Manis New Township. It is accessible by land transport and by boat from Tanjung Manis jetty. For those from other Division who wish to visit Rajang Songket factory, they have choices either to use river transport from Sarikei or by air from Kuching, Miri and Mukah airport to Tanjung Manis Airport. Hornbill Skyway also operates flight service to this area.The songket (hand woven) industries at Kampung Rajang started as early as 1960s. This industry has been getting strong support from Sarawak Economic Development Corporation and Malaysian Handicraft Council. At the present they only concentrate on domestic market. The quality is different or even better from other songket in the market.
All information contain herein is for my heartland tourism promotion purpose. For more information, browse through www.sarawaktourism.com
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