Agensi & Anda:

Preserving the Indigenous ADAT for Posterity

A BRIEF LOOK AT THE MAJLIS ADAT ISTIADAT SARAWAK

(Council For Customs and Traditions)

Chief Minister’s Department

The Majlis or Council was established in 1974 with the overall objective of preserving and nurturing the customs and traditions of the indigenous communities of Sarawak except the Malays - the Malays affairs are catered for by the Majlis Agama Islam Sarawak.

Dato' Tra Zehnder (fifth from right) and colleagues. the Majlis plays a significant role in preserving the 'adat' for the benefit of future generations of Sarawak.

It is headed by a Ketua Majlis (Head of Council) and assisted by a Timbalan Ketua Majlis (Deputy Head of Council). The present Ketua Majlis is Yang Berbahagia Dato Tra Zehnder and she is assisted by her Deputy, Encik Nicholas Bawin.

The secretary to the Majlis, Encik Jayl Langub is the Chief Executive Officer who is responsible for the day to day adminis-tration of the Majlis, co-ordination and supervision of re-search activities, and the implementation of the decisions of the Majlis.

Encik Jayl is assisted by a supporting staff of 20 people. There are four Research Sections in the Majlis - Iban Section, Bidayuh Section, Orang Ulu Section and Melanau Section - with a Research Assistant responsible for each.

Functions

Parts of the voluminous tape recordings and other media resources found in th resource centre of the Majlis. The growing number of resource personnel and media equipment prompted the Majlis to scout for a bigger office space.

The Majlis is also formed to nurture the customs and traditions of the indigenous communities so that they can withstand external influences of modernisation and blend with change and development. Future generations will be able to benefit from efforts undertaken by the Majlis in its preservation work.

Another role of the Majlis is to act as a centre for the collection, collation, storage and dissemination of material on cultures and traditions of the indigenous communities.

The Majlis also initiates preliminary studies and research into the various customary laws or adat of the indigenous communities and make recommendations to the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri (the Governor) as the need arises to standardise and codify the customary laws or adat of the indigenous communities.

The Majlis have been conducting studies and researches on such matters as the Majlis may think fit, for example oral tradition which is abundantly found at source in the longhouses in the rural areas of Sarawak .

Specific Roles

Beside its role as the storehouse of knowledge on the indigenous adat of Sarawak natives, the Majlis is also entrusted with certain specific roles such as the collection, transcription and storage of oral tradition like myths, legends, ethnohistory, epics, folklores, history and migration, chants, prayers, poems and others.

The Majlis maintains liaison with both public and private organisations involved in the study and research of the customs and traditions of the indigenous communities.

The Majlis also regularly give talks and lectures to government officers and Native Chiefs involved in the administration of customary laws and adat on the concept and functions of customary laws and adat in indigenous communities.

Whenever there is a conflict of interpretation in the Native Courts (Mahkamah Bumiputera), officials from the Majlis are called upon to provide guidance in the interpretation of customary laws or adat for a smooth deliberation of cases before it.

For more information pertaining to the adat istiadat of the natives of Sarawak, please contact the address below: Ketua Majlis, Majlis Adat Istiadat, Chief Minister’s Department, Level 4, Wisma Satok, Jalan Satok/Kulas, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak; Tel: (60)82-234719, 234720 Fax: (60)82-234730