These stories are performed during important rituals such as the Mohkulas, an inauguration and the Sumalud healing ceremony. They strengthen their cultural values to ensuring their transmission to future generations.

Mamanpang became a sacred chant filled with the story of creation, the names of ancient spirits and the rules of life. This chant has been used in many rituals in Lotud community. Through this oral tradition, the Lotud people can ensuring that their identity remains alive.

Before writings and education evolved, the Bidayuhs deliver their knowledge and beliefs by passed down from generation to generation. Same goes the Bidayuhs folklores that usually delivered by the elders. This tradition was historically spread orally, if face challenges in the modern era in making documentation for cultural preservation.

This song serves as moral story teaching important values of the important of balance and the respect towards nature. It also portray a struggle between good and evil.

Let’s take a little trip, not around the world, but into the stories that have been passed down in some parts of Malaysia. Basically, folklores are the original tea from our ancestors. Get ready to read about legends, creatures and maybe a few curses.

These folklores have traditionally delivered by storytelling, ritual performances, and music. It makes them memorized their oral tradition without written records.

This led to her family’s disapproval and led them to arrange a marriage with a man from an equal status with her named Datu Atik. He is a man who has many wives and an oppressor.

Refused to obey her family’s wishes, Arung Salamiah decides to hide and disappear from everyone. Some believed that she vanished into the sea while others say she turned in a spirit.

1. Miring / Ngangah – To bless the land and to seek protection from illness or badluck.

2. Langgie Pingadap Dance – To worship the spirit of the paddy.

Besides folklores, their oral tradition also in form of poetic verses, music and oral genealogy (Panutan). These traditions survived in documentation and Gawai Dayak festivals. Today, the Kenyah community have welcomed modern lifestyles while keep their heritage alive.

They believes that Datu Timang has a power where his blowpipe or known as 'sumpit' can search for its own target.

Parap – often used during ceremonies and performed with musical instruments named ‘sape’.

1. Legends and Myths

2. Pantun

3. Ritual chants

4. Folktales of spirits

1. Antu – the word 'Antu’ describe the soul of dead people who passed away.

2. Petara – the deities or higher spirits that give guides to the way of life.

1. The legend of Bung Bratak – become a symbol of bravery, tragedy and ancestral roots.

2. The legend of Kaleng Buran – become a symbol of love.

3. The Story of Sikokok - become a symbol of connection between humans and animals.

Bambazoon – rice spirits to agricultural life and harvest festival.

Magombok – performed to ensure the safety and blessing of the ocean spirits

This celebration is to appreciate the earth for it's generosity for giving rich land for rice planting.

I was fascinated by how these communities has their own rituals, myth, and belief. Many of these cultural practices and stories were not part of what we learned in school. But, by exploring them in our own, we can gain deeper understanding and knowledge with the people we share community with. For example, I notice that they would welcome people from others community to joined them especially if there’s a festivals or feasts being held. This show that they are not isolated themselves from others, it’s just us who don’t want to explore and get to know about them.

By learning about these diverse communities, I realized that cultural awareness is not only about recognizing their unique traditions but also understanding the meaning, values and significance behind it. It helps us develop empathy and avoid prejudice in this society. Learning about cultures that I have studied, it opened my eyes about the values of respect for nature and unseen world. Their resilience to a constant changing environment reflects a deep relationship between the nature and human.

This reflection has inspired me to be more open minded and culturally aware in my daily life. I hope there’s someone or an organization can keep their tradition written on the internet. In this modern era, they should preserve their heritage through the internet, so that people can recognize them more. I also hope to keep learning about other Malaysian communities and support the preservation of our rich cultural diversity.