Dr. Elie Luhat, chairman of the Bakun Community Security committee, said that the people in Belaga attributed the deaths of 10 persons in and around Bakun dam were due to the fact that the state authorities failed to pay compensation amounting to more than RM2 million for their ancestral lands and their graves which have been submerged under water.
“The money is needed by the local people to appease gods after the jungle, ancestral lands and graves have been submerged.
“We need to offer some offerings so that the gods do not angry,” he said. But the money has never been paid. As a result the ‘miring’ has not been performed.
Thus the spirits of the jungle and the spirits of the dead must be angry and curse those who do not respect them (spirits).
Adat (culture) is Adat. The government must respect the people’s Adat and belief whether they like it or not; or whether they share their belief or not.
And for James Masing, Land Development Minister urging the people not to believe that the deaths were due to the curse by the spirits was uncalled for, said a retired Police officer.
Masing said that the health department had confirmed that the deaths were due to melioidosis and leptospirosis and should not any way link to any spiritual belief.
“I believe that many of the Orang Ulu in the area are educated and should not believe the story,” Masing said.
“Let me remind Masing that his people of Baleh did perform ‘miring’ in December last year after the occurrence of logjam. I heard 14 pigs were slaughtered as ingredients of the offering (piring), with seven dead pigs were placed at each of the river banks. The people in the area should not pass the place within three days. That is Adat.
“These offerings were to appease gods or spirits after timber companies destroyed the jungle in Ulu Baleh and its tributaries. Because of this, landslides occurred causing logjam spreading from Kapit right up to Sibu. People lost their sources of income. Tonnes of fish of various species died due to suffocation,” said the ex-officer.
More than RM100,000 was spent on the ceremony.
Is it not strange for Masing to comment on a speck on someone else’s eye, when a big log is found in his own eye?
“The money is needed by the local people to appease gods after the jungle, ancestral lands and graves have been submerged.
“We need to offer some offerings so that the gods do not angry,” he said. But the money has never been paid. As a result the ‘miring’ has not been performed.
Thus the spirits of the jungle and the spirits of the dead must be angry and curse those who do not respect them (spirits).
Adat (culture) is Adat. The government must respect the people’s Adat and belief whether they like it or not; or whether they share their belief or not.
And for James Masing, Land Development Minister urging the people not to believe that the deaths were due to the curse by the spirits was uncalled for, said a retired Police officer.
Masing said that the health department had confirmed that the deaths were due to melioidosis and leptospirosis and should not any way link to any spiritual belief.
“I believe that many of the Orang Ulu in the area are educated and should not believe the story,” Masing said.
“Let me remind Masing that his people of Baleh did perform ‘miring’ in December last year after the occurrence of logjam. I heard 14 pigs were slaughtered as ingredients of the offering (piring), with seven dead pigs were placed at each of the river banks. The people in the area should not pass the place within three days. That is Adat.
“These offerings were to appease gods or spirits after timber companies destroyed the jungle in Ulu Baleh and its tributaries. Because of this, landslides occurred causing logjam spreading from Kapit right up to Sibu. People lost their sources of income. Tonnes of fish of various species died due to suffocation,” said the ex-officer.
More than RM100,000 was spent on the ceremony.
Is it not strange for Masing to comment on a speck on someone else’s eye, when a big log is found in his own eye?
Like Dr. Elie, Masing is also a PhD holder, so the question of so many Orang Ulu in the area being educated and should not believe stories on spirits do not rise, said the officer.
