THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRADITIONAL WATER VILLAGE HOUSE OF BRUNEIAN MALAY IN LIMBANG, SARAWAK

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Amaluddin Bakeri
Mohammad Raduan Mohd. Ariff

Abstract

In Limbang, Sarawak, most of the Bruneian Malays live in water village area. Bruneian Malays are the main ethnic group living in the water village of Limbang River bank and the coast of the Brunei Bay since the Bruneian Sultanate time. The houses of Bruneian Malay face the river or the sea. When the tide rises, the pillars of the houses will be submerged in the water, making the houses appear as if they are built on the top of the water. The construction of the Bruneian Malay houses of the water village has its customs and beliefs. The Bruneian Malays believe that only houses built by following the regulations of traditional customs and beliefs will last long, and the well-being of the residents can be guaranteed. These sets of customs and belief systems will also determine how the houses are constructed. This article will discuss the construction of traditional Bruneian Malay houses in the water village of Limbang in Sarawak in details. The initial stages of the construction, including choosing the construction spot, calculating the month, the day and the hour for the construction will be described first. Next, construct the pillars, and the frame of the house in teamwork will be presented; and finally, Bruneian Malay customs and beliefs of moving new houses will be discussed.


Keywords: water village house, construction, adat, Bruneian Malay, Sarawak

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