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KUCHING, July 25:‘Punan Myths and Legends’ aims to shed light on one of Sarawak’s least-known minorities.
According to a synopsis of the book, the Punan community comprises approximately 6,000 individuals and has unfortunately been mistakenly identified as the larger Penan group, with the confusion originating from the misuse and abuse of their ethnonym in literature.
“In the past, they were even collectively labelled as ‘Punan and Penan’ by the (NRD) National Registration Department. However, after the Punan National Association raised their concerns, the NRD finally assigned distinct codes to each group—Punan received the code 1010, and Penan was recognised separately under the 1058 code,” it said.
However, very little is known about the Punan, and ‘Punan Myths and Legends’ stands out as the first of its kind as it holds additional historical significance as it is written by the Punan themselves.
Comprising 590 pages of bilingual text, the book ventures into the history and culture of the Punan from as far back as the 19th century while dispelling long-held misconceptions obscuring the uniqueness of this indigenous community in Sarawak.
Written by Calvin Jemarang, the book is divided into seven chapters which unravel the intricate tapestry of Punan society while shedding light on their interactions with neighbouring communities.
Calvin is a journalist who writes for the national news outlet The Star. He is the founding member of the Punan National Association (PNA) and PNA Committee of Advisor. — DayakDaily
