via Borneo Post, 05 April 2022: Several burial poles linked to the Punan or Beketan people in Sarawak have been discovered in the Tatau river basin, which may be up to several hundred years old.
Research should be conducted following the discovery of ‘klirieng’ (burial poles) in Sungai Penyarai in Tatau last year, said Minister in Premier of Sarawak’s Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai.
He said the research could help identify if the klirieng was specifically of the Punan / Beketan community.
Sikie, who is Kakus assemblyman, also suggested a committee to be set up and led by Penghulu Sanok Magai, so as to facilitate a dialogue with Sarawak Museum Department, the Council for Native Customs and Traditions, and Forest Department on ways to ‘best protect and safeguard such irreplaceable and invaluable heritage asset’.
“The process of recovering the klirieng in the river should be done in accordance with the native customs and traditions, as to be discussed by this committee later,” he spoke at the Sarawak Museum Department’s ‘Heritage Conservation Programme’ at Dewan Masyarakat Punan in Rumah Ado Bilong, Kakus near here last Sunday.
Source: Minister calls for immediate research works on burial poles discovered in Tatau
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