Orang Ulu want to 'modernise' name
Joe Fernandez Jan 28, 09 11:40am
‘Lun Daya’ has been suggested by Federation of Orang Ulu Association Malaysia (Forum) president Lihan Jok, who is also the state assemblyperson for Telang Usan. “Orang Ulu seems not to reflect, and does not befit, the community in the modern context,” said Lihan who plans to hold a symposium in April on the name change and forward the idea to the Sarawak cabinet for its consideration and incorporation in the state constitution.
“Many Orang Ulu have migrated to urban areas where some have found success in various endeavours. Some have become professionals, not only in the country, but internationally as well.” In particular, he cited Malaysia Airlines Chief Executive Officer Idris Jala who has been credited with turning the national carrier around after a spate of near bankruptcies. “Most of the community’s professionals, intellectuals and leaders have agreed in principle to the name change,” said Lihan. ‘Lun Daya’, he said, would reflect the resourcefulness and strength of the Orang Ulu in bringing changes and development to their families and communities.
The Orang Ulu will remain within the Dayak grouping which includes the Iban (formerly Sea Dayaks), the Bidayuh (formerly Land Dayaks) and the Melanau whose Muslim third often identify themselves with the Sarawak Malays. The word ‘Dayak’ comes from the Melanau word dayeh (land). Apparently, the term Orang Ulu was chosen to ‘differentiate’ the community from others as they live mostly in the ulu or upper reaches of the great rivers of northern Sarawak.
However, many have come to associate the name with ‘backwardness’ in all aspects of modern life.Others feel that there is no harm in taking pride in the current name, which covers over 30 sub-groups in Sarawak. It was coined in 1969 by the now defunct Orang Ulu National Association which preceded Forum. “Forum should not think of just a name change for the Orang Ulu but play an important role in the socio-economic development of the community,” said William Ghani Bina, the special adviser to the Sarawak Lun Bawang Association.
“The name should be retained as it signifies the identity, culture and way of life of the community.” Bina advised Forum leaders to concentrate on organising courses in entrepreneurship and agriculture for the community, instead of wasting time on cosmetic changes. However, his remarks have not gone down well with some urban Orang Ulu who point out that the Lun Bawang themselves were formerly known as Murut, which they had considered a derogatory term besides denoting a certain coarseness or roughness of nature and backwardness.
Views on proposal Businessman Henry Opang Luhat, from the Kayan sub-group, thinks that Lun Daya is an idea whose time has come. “Orang Ulu sounds too much like Orang Utan. I think that it’s about time that we have a name change,” said Luhat, also the executive secretary of Parti Rakyat Sarawak, a member of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. “Orang Ulu are Malay words. It is only fair that any new term is chosen by the community itself and not by others, as in the past.” Jane Liang Labang, a Kelabit, said that she would support a name change if it truly reflects the identity of the community.“I am not sure what Lun Daya means. Any proposal for a name change must be from the community and must be accepted by all,” said Labang who is general manager of the Sarawak Cultural Village.
According to one Internet site, Lun Daya is an alternate name for Lundayeh. Other names for Lundayeh include Lun Dayah, Lun Daye, Lun Dayeh, Lun Dayoh, Lundaya, Lun Lod, and Southern Murut.Lawyer Richard Lah, also a Kelabit, agrees with the name change but suggests that ‘Daya’ be spelt as ‘Dayah’. “I feel offended whenever people call me Orang Ulu. The word orang is degrading. We were always referred to as natives. The term 'Orang Ulu' does not exist in the constitutions of Sarawak and Malaysia. Forum itself should not have been formed until after the name change.”
The Orang Ulu are famous for their unique musical instrument called the sape, elaborate beadwork and tattoos, as well as making swords and totem poles. They typically live in longhouses elaborately decorated with murals and woodcarvings. The majority are Christians, but traditional spiritual practices are still found in some areas. Some community elders fear that any tussle over a name change may result in some members calling themselves by a new name while others retain the term Orang Ulu. In neighbouring Sabah, a decision by some Dusuns to call themselves Kadazan, a new umbrella term, resulted in a split with the emergence of two groups.
Attempts to merge the two terms, Kadazan and Dusun, into the more unified KadazanDusun about a decade ago was not enough to heal the split, resulting in the emergence of three groups and three separate cultural associations. Purists in Sabah and Sarawak see the emergence of new umbrella terms as politically motivated and feel that ethnic groupings should be allowed to retain their unique identities in a celebration of differences.
