Sagah: Update Adat Bidayuh 1994 to stay relevant

KUCHING (April 7): The Bidayuh customary law, Adat Bidayuh 1994, needs to be updated to remain relevant in today’s context, said Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.

The Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, who is also a prominent figure within the community, emphasised that punishments for offences under the law should be more stringent to serve as a deterrent.

“We have two types of offences: one against the spirit and one against the person… And some of the fines imposed are only equivalent to RM50 or RM100. Nobody is afraid of that.

“So, these are among the provisions where we need to amend. Make it a heavier penalty, a heavier fine,” he said during a dinner held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) Bidayuh Council of Elders (BCOE) at a restaurant here on Monday.

He shared that the drafting of Adat Bidayuh 1994 previously involved extensive studies across areas including Lundu, Bau, Serian and Siburan, with the participation of village chiefs.

The Tarat assemblyman also touched on the management of burial grounds in the Bidayuh community, calling for a comprehensive and inclusive approach that accommodates both customary practices and institutional considerations.

“Sometimes, we pity our own kampong people. They cannot go back and bury their dead in the kampong itself,” he said.

He described scenarios where villagers wanting to bury their dead in their ancestral village were prevented by religious institutions established there, as they no longer shared the same faith as the institution’s doctrine.

Sagah also highlighted the use of the term ‘Prima Bidayuh’ in referring to a leader within the Bidayuh community.

According to him, ‘Prima’, which means ‘panglima’ (warlord) in the Bidayuh Biatah language, symbolises authoritative leadership, courage and the willingness to fight for the welfare of the community.