Seybold Report ISSN: 1533-9211
Mohammad Husri Morni
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
husri@jkkn.gov.my
Mohd Yuszaidy Mohd Yusoff
yuszaidy@ukm.edu.my
Vol 17, No 10 ( 2022 ) | Licensing: CC 4.0 | Pg no:2347-2354 | Published on: 31-10-2022
Abstract
The Melanau community are similar in terms of culture and customs to the Malay community in Sarawak. The close relations of culture, social, economy and politics between these two ethnic groups has created a strong unity and bond among them. However, the Melanau people have their own customs particularly regarding the death ritual and customs. This study was conducted by examining the death customs of the Melanau community in Mukah. In this study, the uniqueness of death customs within the culture of the Mukah’s Melanau community will be explored. According to the view of anthropologists, a culture is a system of ideas, actions and outcomes which were learned by humans in their life’s framework. This study is also observed the Melanau community whom are still practices the rituals and customs in matters of death or funeral. Thus, this study is to identify the traditional death ceremony that is still practiced by the Melanau community in Mukah. For this study, the death customs will be analysed from two aspects, namely the practice of death customs in the past and the practice of death customs in recent times. There are several rituals and customs that needed to be observed throughout the conduct of the ceremony. The research of this study uses ethnographical research methods which is based on field research and library research. This research instrument adopts focused interview and observation techniques. The selection of informants for focused interviews is based on individuals who have influence and authority in their community. This study uses an approach of analytical descriptive narrative content. Likewise, this study is also supported by data obtained from library studies in the form of secondary data. The results of findings in relation to heritage beliefs, the death rituals and customs cannot be separated in the Melanau community. The results of the study show that the traditional Melanau community's relationship with death rituals and customs is very difficult to eradicate and separate from the Melanau community itself, eventhough they have embraced Islam. Research contributions can add to the vocabulary of knowledge in the socio-cultural field and most importantly can strengthen the unity and bond among the Melanau community.
Keywords:
Customs, Death, Melanau Community, Ritual, Sarawak