The majority of Iban community leaders supported the setting of a fixed timeframe for belelang and bejalai, emphasising that these practices should not continue indefinitely.
Minister in the Premier’s Department (Native Laws and Customs), Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai said that as part of the review process of Adat Iban 1993, the Iban Research Section has started the verification of data of Adat Berumah (settlement law) and Adat Ruang Bilik (family law).
“Towards this end, 20 engagement sessions were organised this year with Iban community leaders. The engagements covered the central and southern regions of Sarawak. The northern region was covered in 2023.
One of the key findings from the verification exercise highlighted the need to include certain Adat that were not documented in the Adat Iban 1993.
These include the customs related to belelang, bejalai, and pechah rumah,・he said during his ministerial winding-up speech, today (Nov 18).
He explained that the rural-urban and economic migrations among the Iban communities are entangling with issues relating to the rights to properties in the ancestral longhouse or village.
In this respect, most of the Ketua Masyarakat and Ketua Kaum were in favour of fixing a period for belelang and bejalai. Belelang and bejalai cannot be indefinite.
After the lapse of the period fixed, an individual who belelang or bejalai (economic migration or adventure) and who has lost contact with the community would be deemed pindah and automatically lose his rights to property in his ancestral home.
Meanwhile, with regard to pechah rumah the rights to temuda rimba, pulau galau, and pemakai menoa are yet to be determined and agreed upon by the Community leaders,・said Sikie.
On Bidayuh Research Section, he said that the section is currently reviewing Adat Bidayuh 1994 and focusing on land matters.
“In this respect, a total of 14 engagements were conducted since February 2024. From some of these engagements, the section received a request for some dormant Adat to be revived and enforced urgently.
“For example, the Adat ngiruga tarun, that is the Adat on trespassing for the protection of customary land (tana’ binua), farmlands, ancestral burial grounds, and sacred sites.
“This Adat requires that any outsider or stranger must obtain prior permission to enter the areas from the Village Chief. If the land is a private land, the outsider or stranger must seek permission from the landowner to enter or to organise any activity on the land.
“Failure to do so would be trespassing and could render the trespasser to be charged and fined,” he explained.
He also said that based on the Orang Ulu Research Section, the draft for Adet Bagatan had been submitted to Sarawak Attorney-General Chambers (SAGC) for vetting.
“Further to this, the Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (MAIS) and Sarawak Attorney-General Chambers had conducted a consultative engagement with the Bagatan community in Bintulu last October. It is hoped that the Adet Bagatan would be codified and published soon.”
