Temenggong Datuk Kanang Anak Langkau, Bujang Berani Bansa Iban

                         

I remember the first time that I used the Iban phrase “Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban” or translated means "As long as I live, I shall fight!"…I used it as part of my so called speech during the orientation week to my non-muslims batch mates in UiTM. Not in the sense that we literally go to war using weapons but we study as though we are in a war throughout our university life and eventually gain what we suppose to gain for our families…the scroll…

"Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban" means a lot to an Iban particularly the late Temenggong Datuk  Kanang Anak Langkau. That was the phrase he cried to heighten the spirit of his troop during the insurgency  in Perak on 8 February 1980 where he lead the Unit Combat Intelligence Platoon of 8th Battalion Royal Rangers  to seek and destroy a this insurgent group.  At the attack with the communists, Kanang took three rounds of bullets and managed to kill 5 communists. No three bullets could stop him from serving his beloved Malaysia as he returned to active duty even after the incident that almost took our hero’s life…no, not Kanang Anak Langkau…a truly anak Iban Bujang Berani.  

Let us see a little bit of his biography:

Kanang anak Langkau was born on 2^nd March 1945 in Nanga Meluan, Julau, Sarawak. He entered military service with the with the British Army, as an Iban Tracker, attending Jungle Warfare School in Ulu Tiram in early 1962. Kanang was attached to the 42 Commando serving during the Brunei Revolt and during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation.

Kanang later then served with the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and was absorbed into the Sarawak Rangers which eventually became part of the Malaysian Rangers when Malaysia was proclaimed on 16 September 1963. He retired after 21 years of service as a First Warrant Officer and was the Temenggong (paramount chief) of the Iban in Sri Aman, where he resided. In 1987, he was awarded the Officer of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PBS) - Pegawai Bintang Sarawak.

On 15 April 2009, he made headlines after rescuing a baby orangutan from captivity with his friend, Tay Choon Yong and the baby orangutan was being handed to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. On 24 September 2011, he was conferred the Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (PGBK) (Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang), with the title of Datuk by the Abang Muhammad Salahuddin, the Head of State's 90th Birthday.

In 2011, Kanang supervised Operation Mai Pulai. This operation involved the locating and exhumation of the remains of 21 Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers who were killed during the Second Malayan Emergency. Their remains were exhumed from multiple locations on the Malay Peninsula and returned to Sarawak where they were ceremonially reburied in July 2011.

On 3 January 2013, he collapsed while watching television at home in Sungai Apong after complaining of chest pains. Immediately rushed to the Sarawak General Hospital, he was pronounced dead at the age of 68. His passing was a great lost to Malaysia especially to our Iban community. Now I realised “Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban” means more than just a phrase to heighten our spirits, it is a chant for us to remember to move on and get on with our lives regardless how bad our days can be.

Service : British Army (1962-1963)
                Malaysian Armed Forces (1962-1983)

Rank     : First Warrant Officer

Unit       : Sarawak Rangers (British Army)
                           Royal Ranger Regiment

Awards   : Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP)
                 Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB)
                 Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang (PGBK)
                 Pegawai Bintang Sarawak (PBS)

Before I part, I bid farewell to our Hero, Temenggong Datuk Kanang Anak Langkau (SP, PGB, PGBK), Bujang Berani, you will always be remembered by Sarawakians from all walks of life. I stumbled upon one Iban chant or “Sabak Bebuah” written by Allen Charlie on his “IBAN” page on Facebook and it was so moving it made me cry. Basically, it tells about the late Kanang's life, bravery, struggles, achievements and praise written beautifully in the classic Iban language. So I wish to share this with all of my readers out there:  

Raja Berani ninggalka dunya:

 

Kira enda lebu ga nuan, ke bulih gelar Raja Berani laban ulih nyapai bintang besai ke ngasuh nama nuan pegari tinggi dedinggai nadai mandung.

Endang enda lebu ga karung mengada nuan suba, ke bisi tebunsa nangung pemerinsa mai nuan dalam pengelama keleman 9 bulan, laban penatai nuan ke dunya endang di anti sida Keling enggau Bunga Nuing, di kemata lalu basa sida Laja seduai Bunga Jawa, endang di intai ka Sida Sempurai, lalu timang sida Kumang seduai Indai Abang, di indung sida Lulong indai Mendung ari Gelung ke nyingit nyinggong daun sabang ke endang berimbai enggau orang Panggau di menoa jela Isang.

Tang dalam maya nya, dia Tutong, Tuai orang di Gelung pen sama bisi ga nutong ka Setawak nebah dumbak maya nuan ke mencelak mula iya meda dunya, ambi semua Petara sama bela nemu nuan bisi datai ngagai dunya landai kitai ke diatu.

Dia deh nuan lalu udah tejapai ka tangkai nyiur undang ke merundai labuh tejuntai lebuh nuan ke enggau orang nyarau ranyai di menoa Nunok ulu Serpan di madang paya maram ke di wan bunsu Antu Kamba, Endu Dara Sia ke berumah di Paya Maram Semadang, ke ngembuan jelu Pusa Itung ke bekungkung baruh dagu, lalu iya tu meh ke bepemai ka Tajau Rusa bebingka Sengang.

Tang enda mukai-mukai dih nuan ayak maya ka beperang ngenanka menua anak bansa, bisi jai mimpi alai peluru bisi ngacir nuan bisi kena timbak anak seterum leka senapang, tak disangka orang mabun laya ningal ka dunya mih nuan suba. Tang Petara endang amat bisi ngemata ka nuan ungal wai, ke alai Sebayan enda nyadi ngambi nuan pulai laban Indai Abang bisi ba tisi napi litan nuan suman. Lalu laban nuan ke endang semampai dikemataka Petara Perang aki kitai Lang Sengalang Burung, ke diau di tuchung langit landung, ke baka tudung seraung tangi payung langit. Kedua agi laban iya tu meh menyadi Ini Manang Bali ke betelaga baruh rekung, menyadi biak Aki Lang Sengalang Burung, laki endu Yak Talun Kupak, Silai anak Runggang Jejabung ngintu nuan ka lalu ngejungka nuan beberita dikumbai orang mati angkat idup baru.

Lalu udah bekau ari nya, nuan lalu jelai nama tampak rita, diberi perintah SP lalu digelar Raja Berani dikelala serata menua enggau negeri ba sekayu menua Sarawak, ba sepemanjai rintai menua kitai Malaysia lalu ngacir serata dunya.

 Tang laban ke udah nama anak mensia ari tanah kitai endang pulai baru ke tanah. Laban Petara endang iya udah bejaku, tiap utai ti idup endang iya mati kepenudi. Nyangka nya Petara balat rinduka nuan, alaika ngambi nuan dulu pulai dinihari pagi tadi, alai nuan ke lalu nadai ninggalka dunya mandang pulaika mandai. Tang nama nuan aki, endang iya sigi meruan taja nuan pulaik Sebayan. Pemerani enggi nuan aki, endang iya sigi semampai nyadika buah tusui dilah, semampai ditusi tiap pagi, semampai dikenang tiap petang. R.I.P Temenggong Datuk Kanang Anak Langkau, anak Iban Raja Berani, lenyau nuan nadai orang nganti.

 By: Allen Charlie (Allen Charlie's blog)

I am deeply sadden by his passing even though I do not know him personally. This post is dedicated to this true Sarawakian Hero. Thank you Temenggong Datuk Kanang Anak Langkau for your unending dedication to keep Malaysia safe you will always be remembered and May God Bless your soul Bujang Berani... Amen.

Temenggong Datuk Kanang Anak Langkau

(2 March 1945 - 3 January 2013)

                     

Ngepan Indu Iban Saribas for weddings

First of all, I would like to wish all my readers Happy New Year 2013 and may we will be able to gain more of good things this year.

Well, just recently I was very pleased to see an Iban couple wore Iban traditional costume for their wedding at a long house in Saratok, Sarawak. I did mentioned at my previous post about Mr. Josh Angga's ngepan collection and this time around on 28 December 2012, his cousin got married and wore his collection both for Iban man and woman costume.

Looking at the photo it reminded me of my own wedding also wearing the traditional iban costume for our reception on 28 April 2012 at the Fourpoints Sheraton Hotel instead of our longhouse.

Be it in a hotel or a longhouse I must say I am very glad to see more young couples are now bold enough to wear their traditional costumes.

I believe it is also paying respect to their Iban culture and this is one of the ways that will ensure the continuity of our culture. Here's the link to my wedding held in Kuching 28 April 2013.

Veeky & Johnney's Wedding 28 April 2012

Nowadays more and more Iban wedding planners and costumes owners promote Iban costumes for weddings...A good initiative in order to preserve our culture rather than wearing the common evening gown and suits...have an open mind, believe me wearing your ngepan Iban or your ethnic costumes can make a difference in your wedding reception and photos too :)

                       

The look of Rawai Tinggi

Recently a friend of mine appraoched me via FaceBook asking whether I can feature his collection of ngepan Indu Iban. I said why not?

Josh Angga, a Saratok guy based in Kuching, has the hobby of collecting ngepan Iban accessories just recently. Among his collections are featured here in this post. His collection was also featured at the Miss World Harvest Festival 2012 worn by Ms. Diana Kedeny.
 

Rawai tinggi with marek empang

Just with Rawai tinggi

 

Ms. Diana Kedeny in Josh's collection

There you go...Josh loves to share his knowledge about ngepan indu Iban with all of you who are interested.
Interested?
You can always contact him at: joshcuevas_alvarez@yahoo.com

By the way he also has the hands for making marek empang too...will be on my next post...

<!-- nuffnang -->
<script type="text/javascript">
        nuffnang_bid = "0fc4f37f868aed3ab3efa761915cc306";
        document.write( "<div id='nuffnang_lr'></div>" );
        (function() {
                var nn = document.createElement('script'); nn.type = 'text/javascript';   
                nn.src = 'http://synad2.nuffnang.com.my/lr.js';   
                var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(nn, s.nextSibling);
        })();
</script>
<!-- nuffnang-->
                       
 

Sarawak Fashion Hi-Tea 2012 (17 November 2012)

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening" - Coco Chanel 

We got the chance to see the many talented Sarawakian designers display their creativity using Sarawak elements to their designs at the Sarawak Fashion Hi-Tea held on 17 November 2012 at the Concorde Hotel, Shah Alam.

Be it from the material (pua kumbu) to just having motifs of Sarawak I must say Sarawakian designers both senior and the newer ones really impressed me..

I loved looking at Von Jolly Couture's designs as he used Pua Kumbu as the main body of his creations.. Other designers were:

1) MO Studio

2) Erwan Asbor Collection

3) Q.Adamsha; and

4) Propaganda Boutique

Meanwhile, I also designed my own pua kumbu vest which is actually Baju burung (vest) worn by men. I tailored it to make it into a vest cinched on the waist to feature the "peplum" effect. 

Veeky's Design...

My favourite model....my husband :)

With my niece Ms. Kymberly and Ms. Medeline Prada

With Committee Member Mr. Gilbert

Committee members Ms. Magdalene & Ms. Casey

One of the designers Von Jolly

With Panggau Singgai CEO Ms. Alvina

Dresses using pua kumbu by Von Jolly Couture



By MO Studio

With Ms Malaysia World 2011 Ms Chloe and Ms. Pamela Tam 1st runner up

There you go, first stint of Sarawak Fashion...I really hope that this to be an annual event, I'm sure there are many talented Sarawakians out there who are eager to show their designs. It is a great opportunity to show the world that Sarawakian designs do have potential.

Let's make Sarawak Fashion a trend, our culture, a way of life....


<!-- nuffnang -->
<script type="text/javascript">
        nuffnang_bid = "0fc4f37f868aed3ab3efa761915cc306";
        document.write( "<div id='nuffnang_lr'></div>" );
        (function() {
                var nn = document.createElement('script'); nn.type = 'text/javascript';   
                nn.src = 'http://synad2.nuffnang.com.my/lr.js';   
                var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(nn, s.nextSibling);
        })();
</script>
<!-- nuffnang-->
                       

Old Iban Ngepan Making Their Comeback

Thanks to Borneo Hornbill Festival the younger generation of Iban knows the existence of almost extinct ngepan Iban (Iban costume).

Now even the older generation begins to value of culture by sharing such information to the younger generation. In this post I would like to highlight the “comeback” of the old Iban ngepan. I guess old is the “in” thing at the moment as what people say that “Old is Gold”….

1)      Ngepan Rawai tinggi

     -   I realized the existence of this ngepan through my reading of books written by English writer, namely Rev. Edwin H. Gomes. This book enlightened me on the ngepan Iban worn by the women of Saribas tribe.

    -   The ngepan would consist of the rawai tinggi (high corset), kain kebat as the skirt (ikat technique pua kumbu which is made into a skirt) and other accessories like tumpa (bangles), lampit pirak (silver belts), sugu tinggi (the headgear made of silver) gerunchong kaki (anklets) etc. 

2)      Ngepan Marik / Ngepan Dujung Marik)

    -   The uniqueness of this ngepan is that from the material that makes the costume i.e. colourful glass beads for the “baju ujan” and also the head gear which is called dujung marik. In the olden days, ngepan Marik or some people would call ngepan dujung marik are meant for brides. The skirt is called kain buri/kain burik i.e. velvet sewn with cowrie shells into intricate and beautiful designs.   This ngepan was significant in Kapit area.

3)     Ngepan Lampit Tusu

     -   This ngepan is worn in the Batang Ai, Engkelili, Lubuk Antu area. It is called ngepan lampit tusu as the two silver belts or lampit pirak is worn cris-crossing the breasts. This ngepan is famous as it shows the beauty of silver accessories on an Iban women those days.

4)      Ngepan Ringgit

      -  Ngepan ringgit is worn in the Skrang area. The word “ringgit” means coins hence this ngepan is full of coins linked to each other to form a dress or part of a dress.

There you go the old ngepan making their comeback and I bet they will be here to stay if the younger generation relives the tradition and embrace them like water and air.

The Culture Loving Friends of Borneo Hornbill Festival.....

The Culture Loving Friends of Borneo Hornbill Festival.....

Wow, it has been quite a while since I written something...been pretty busy..

I have many friends..but there are a few friends whom I got to know through my participation in the Borneo Hornbill Festival 2011..particularly Paren Nyawi, Ricky Kimwah, Robson Jelian, Delinda Griet and Stevie Sebol.

Each of them are culture loving in their own way, Paren for instance (top left picture) though he did not won the Keling title for BHF 2011, he used it as a stepping stone to promote Sarawak through many ways be it from him blogging activities, tv promotions, modelling and also roadshows throughout KL and Sarawak.

Next, Ricky Kimwah, or "cikgu Ricky" a Lunbawang chap who is never tired of finding his roots through his travelling in the rural Sarawak. Then as for Robson Jelian and Delinda Griet, bot of them are very talented in dancing particularly in Iban and Bidayuh traditional dance. Finally, my friend Stevie Sebol, a photographer, who potrays his Sabah culture in his photography.

There you go, a short stint on few of my friends who love their culture and I hope younger generation will always appreciate their roots as history makes who they are. You are the ones who will make your culture either "sync" or "swim" in this technology drived world.

Until we meet again... 

Who is the new Kumang Iban Borneo Hornbill Festival 2012?

The New Kumang Iban Borneo Hornbill Festival 2012 is......

 

 

 

 

Ms. Gloria Jimbai, a lass from Bintulu, Sarawak and also a Saratokian like myself...Here's Ms. Gloria Jimbai:

 

 

Her audition in Bintulu

Gloria in action

Me crowning the new Kumang Iban

Kumang Iban BHF 2012, 1st Runner -up Ms. Suzzy Ramli, 2nd Runner-up, Ms. Darwina

Wouldn't want to miss capturing the moment with Kumang Iban and Keling winners

Her photo shoot with Stevie Sebol

 
There you go...finally the wait is answered....can't wait for Borneo Hornbill Festival 2013. 


 

She was also Kumang Bintulu 2009

 

My wish to Gloria, all the best is all your future undertakings and make the best out of your new title as an Iban girl...remember your roots and portray Iban the best as you can...ooohhhaaa...