“Cremation is not practised in Murut funerals,” he told reporters after holding a meeting with Murut customary leaders here on Thursday.

As for example, the Batek, who is not a believer of any organized religious beliefs, have a great respect for the forests and rivers as they believed that wilderness is animated by spirits. They would bury the corpse in a shelter that is high above the ground and deep in the jungle for quite some time. Meanwhile in the Iban belief system, the longhouse is regarded as a “Ritual Entity” belonging to a spiritual world of its own where most of the funeral process happened there before the deceased is moved to the burial ground. 

Why is funeral rite important for these ethnics? It is symbolic, they are able to express their beliefs, feelings and thoughts about the death of their loved ones. Funeral prepares them to concentrate on the death and the excruciating pain that they feel about the death. When people care about  the deceased, they will attend the funeral if at all possible. By attending the funeral, it shows that they are there to support the living and to let them know that they are not alone in their grief. 

Yours Truly, 
Sha.