NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Punan

Punan is an ethnic group distinct or a minority ethnic here in Sarawak specially, unrelated to the Penan and also the other so called Punan found both in Sarawak and Kalimantan part of Borneo. The others Punan which include the like of: The Penan are a nomadic aboriginal people living in Sarawak. ...

The word "Punan" carries the meaning "human being" in Punan language. It is not known when actually the Punan starting to call themselves as Punan. The name is probably derived from a river. According to their legend - all the current Punan or Punan group exist in Sarawak, Malaysia were from from a river called ungei Punan (or Punan river) a tributary of Bah river. However, some literatures wrongly categorizes them as a sub-ethnic entity of the Penan (Micheal Leigh, 2002).

However, officially, as under the Sarawak Interpretation Ordinance and Article 161A, Clause 6 of the Malaysia Federal Constitution, Punan is group under Kajang together with Sekapan, Kejaman, Lahanan and Sihan. They are also included in the politically coined term "Orang Ulu" when Orang Ulu National Association (OUNA), [a Kayan and Kenyah dominated association] was established in 1969.

Location

Punan mostly found in Bintulu, Sarawak. Punan peoples can only be found at Pandan, Jelalong and Kakus in Bintulu Division; along the Rajang river, their longhouses dotted areas spanning from Merit District to lower Belaga town. The Punan are believed to be one of the earliest peoples to have settled in the central part of Borneo, the Rajang River [Rejang] and [Balui River|Balui] areas together with the Sekapan, Kejaman and Lahanan. However the mass migrations of Kayans, subsequently followed by the warfaring [Iban people|Iban]s into Rejang and Balui areas approximately some 200 years ago, forcing the Punan communities living in these areas retreating to Kakus and subsequently to Kemena basin. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

As in year 2006, there were more than 10 Punan settlements (longhouses) found along the Rejang, Kakus, Kemena and Jelalong river. These settlements (longhouses) are: In archaeology and anthropology, a long house or longhouse is a type of long, narrow single room building built by peoples in various parts of the world including Asia, Europe and North America. ...

Total Punan population is estimated to be around 3000 - 5000 people. Punan Sama is a small village (longhouse) along the Rajang River in Sarawak, Malaysia. ...

Language

Punan speak a language categorized as Punan Bah-Biau, a sub Rajang-Sajau language. Although often confused for the Penan, Punan language is actually closer to the language spoken by the Sekapans and Kejamans but not the Penan.

Religion & Beliefs

Punan traditional regilion was a form animist known as "Besavik". The Brooke era saw the arrival of Christian missionaries, bringing education and modern medicine into Sarawak. But the Punan communities remain with their traditional religion of Besavik and subsequently adopting a cult religion - Bungan brought by Jok Apui, a Kenyah from Kalimantan. However in the late 1990 show an increase in the number of Punan converting to Christianity. This is partly due to more and more Punan have became educated and modernization. As in 2006 almost half of Punan are now Christian, leaving only the elderly, less educated still remain observing "Bungan" religion. In its most general sense, the term Animism refers to belief in souls (anima is Latin for soul): in this sense, animism is present in nearly all religions, including religions such as Christianity that see souls as distinct from bodies and as limited to humans. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Punan has unigue burial custom. In the early days they did not bury their aristocrats or "lajar". Instead they built a pole known as Kelirieng of 50 meter high to lay down their beloved leaders. In Sarawak it is estimated to be less than 30 keliriengs left standing. The Punan still practice secondary burial ceremony - whereby dead body is kept at their longhouse for at least 3 - 7 days. This is partly to give more time to far away relatives to give their last respect to the decease.

References

Notes

Note: There is still lack of literatures on Punan peoples. Available information about these peoples were often sourced from either passing notes written by Brooke and Colonial administrators not in-depth scholarly research. The earliest? literature on Punan is probably one written by Eduardo Beccari, an Italian botanist and traveller in 1876?. In the late 1950s, Rodney Needham, Tom Harrisson, de Martinoir wrote a brief notes on Punan people they either personally met or heard from their guides along the Rajang river. Because of the lack of information many have confused them for Penan and also the Punan of Kalimantan. In Sarawak for example the Punan was wrongly classified as Penan by the National Registeration Department in the late 1990. They are also often confused for a politically coined term such as "Kajang" and "Orang Ulu". As such the Punan through their association Punan National Association is willing to collaborate with both foreign and local scholars who interested in doing social, economic research among the communities.

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Ethnic groups in Malaysia

Nationwide

Banjarese • Malay • Chinese • Indian • Bugis • Eurasian • Javanese Image File history File links Flag_of_Malaysia. ... Demographics of Malaysia is diverse. ... Banjar (or Banjarese) is the name of a native ethnic group which consists of a mixed majority of Islamized tribes settled in the Banjar region and in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, the biggest city on the island of Borneo. ... // Tunku Abdul Rahman - First Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdul Razak - Second Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - Fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia Leftenan Adnan - military Hussein Onn - Third Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir bin Mohamad - Fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Tun Razak - Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Parameswara... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Peninsular Malaysia

Baba Nyonya • Malaccan Portuguese • Chitty • Malaysian Siam • Minangkabau • Orang Asli Peranakan, Baba-Nyonya () and Straits Chinese (; named after the Straits Settlements) are terms used for the descendants of the very early Chinese immigrants to the Nusantara region, including both the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java among other places, who have partially adopted Malay... The Kristang or CristÃ£o people are an ethnic group of people, mostly in Malacca (Malaysia) and Singapore. ... The Chitty caretaker of the Chitty museum. ... Malaysian Siam are Malaysian people with Siamese origin/ ancestry. ... The Minangkabau ethnic group (also known as Minang or Padang) is indigenous to the highlands of West Sumatra, in Indonesia. ... Orang Asli is a general term used for any indigenous groups that are found in Peninsular Malaysia. ...

Sarawak

Bidayuh • Bisaya • Bukitan • Iban • Lun Bawang • Kayan • Kedayan • Kelabit • Kenyah • Melanau • Penan • Punan • Selako • Ukit The Bidayuh (formerly known as Land D(a)yak) is one of the main indigenous ethnic groups now settled in areas of southwest Sarawak and the adjacent areas of west Kalimantan. ... The Bisaya are an indigenous people of northwestern Borneo, in Malaysia, concentrated around the Limbang river in northern Sarawak state. ... Bukitan (also known as Baketan) is small tribe living the state of Sarawak, East Malaysia. ... A Modern Iban Longhouse in Kapit Division The Ibans were formerly known during the colonial period by the British as Sea Dayaks and are a branch of the Dayak peoples of Borneo. ... The Lun Bawang is of a Dayak tribe found in Central Borneo. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Kedayan are an ethnic group residing in Brunei, Labuan, Sabah, and parts of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. ... The Kelabit, who have close ties to the Lun Bawang, are an indigenous race of the Sarawak highlands--the remotest and highest of Borneos mountains. ... The Kenyah are an indigenous peoples of Borneo, living in the remote Baram and Belaga regions in Sarawak, Malaysia and Kalimantan, Indonesia. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Penan are a nomadic aboriginal people living in Sarawak. ... Selako is a branch of Dayak people from the Borneo island. ... The Ukit is a tribe found in Sarawak, Borneo. ...

Sabah

Bajau • Brunei • Dusun • Ida'an • Kadazan • Lotud • Murut• Orang Sungai • Rungus • Suluk The Bajau are an indigenous ethnic group residing in Sabah, eastern Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines and parts of Sarawak. ... Dusun is the name of a tribe or ethnic and linguistic group in the Malaysian state of Sabah. ... The Idaan are an ethnic group of Borneo, residing primarily in the Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, and Sandakan districts on the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia. ... The Kadazan is the largest ethnic group in Sabah (a state in Malaysia) making up about one third of the population. ... The Lotud are an indigenous ethnic group residing in Sabah, eastern Malaysia on the island of Borneo. ... The Murut are an indigenous ethnic group inhabiting northern inland regions of Borneo. ... This article needs translation. ... The Rungus are an ethnic group of Borneo, residing primarily in northern Sabah in the area surrounding Kudat. ... The Suluk, also known as Tao Sug, originated from the island of Sulu in the Philippines. ...

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Language

Religion & Beliefs

References

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