By Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, May 26: The rising price of buffaloes has prompted a reassessment of traditional dowry customs under the Adat Lun Bawang as part of an ongoing review of native customary laws in Sarawak.
Minister in the Premier’s Department, Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai, said that a number of provisions under the Adat Lun Bawang 2004 are currently being modernised.
“For example, the Adat on marriage dowry. The current Adat requires that live buffaloes demanded by the bride’s family as dowry is mandatory to be presented to the family.
“However, due to the high price of buffaloes now, this Adat would not be mandatory anymore. The buffaloes may be replaced by a sum of money agreed by the two families,” he said at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) today during the motion of appreciation of the TYT’s address
He added that the Adat Melanau is also undergoing a review, with particular attention on family-related provisions. Most of the traditional practices related to marriage, such as ‘pakan’ and ‘berian’ (belanja), family negotiations, and ceremonial rituals, continue to be observed within the community.
However, some elements of the Adat Melanau are being modernised or adjusted. Sikie gave an example of certain ritual items that are now difficult to source may be converted into agreed monetary values.
Meanwhile, the Adat Iban 1993 is under review, especially concerning the complex customs of adoption.
Sikie explained that while the current review restricts adoption to children under 18, traditional Iban customs recognise three categories: adoption of a child, adoption of an adult by childless couples, and posthumous adoption of an adult to continue an heirless household (nampung bilik punas).
As for the Adat Bidayuh 1994, the review covers family matters, communal settlement, and property, including the ‘Parih Ramban’ (Bukar-Sadung) mourning custom.
“During the period of mourning and bereavement, all forms of social activities, particularly involving celebrations and merriment, are prohibited,” Sikie said.
However, Sikie said that if an event involving entertainment or merriment had been planned before the death of a person in the village, the usual prohibitions during the mourning period may be temporarily lifted.
The prohibitions will be lifted through the payment of a self-imposed fine, known as ‘Adat Pintahak Omon Bateh’ (Bukar-Sadung), to the bereaved family. Once the event concludes, the mourning and bereavement period will resume as customary.
In addition, the Adat Kayan-Kenyah 1994 is being reviewed to split the unified code into two separate ones: Adat Kayan and Adat Kenyah.
Sikie also revealed that a study on Adat Bisaya was conducted from February 22 to February 24, 2025, in Limbang, focusing on family and property-related matters. –DayakDaily
