Borneo Research Journal, Volume 6, December 2012, 58-74 THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRADITIONAL WATER VILLAGE HOUSE OF BRUNEIAN MALAY IN LIMBANG, SARAWAK 1Amaluddin Bakeri & 2Mohammad Raduan Mohd. Ariff 1Independent author 2Mohammad Raduan Mohd. Ariff Department of Southeast Asian Studies University of Malaya ([email protected]) 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 58 Amaluddin Bakeri & Mohammad Raduan Mohd. Ariff Introduction Bruneian Malays who reside in the water villages of Limbang, Sarawak have certain rules in choosing the spot for building houses. The building spot will be examined in detailed first before the construction, with special attention paid to the location, width and water tide level. This is to avoid the newly constructed house to be affected by the unsuitable location. For instance, if a house is built far from the river bank and has the foundation taller than six ft, the house will be lopsided in a few years after the construction.1 In these areas, the river current is fast and can be dangerous to the house and its inhabitants.2 To choose an ideal location, the future house owner will first obtain from the elders and experienced relatives. This advice is taken for considerations when choosing a spot to construct houses that are in harmony with the tides (Ismail Ibrahim, 1996, p. 102), does not breach the taboos and most important of all, close to the house of the parents and the parents-in-law.3 A spot with these characteristics is highly valued, as the house built on the location will be inherited by the descendants of the owner (Aisah Sahdan, 1983/1984, pp. 28-29). Bruneian Malays of water villagers usually prefer the vacant area of the river bank to build houses and easier as a main mode of transportation (Mohammad Raduan & Amaluddin Bakeri, 2001, p.p 192) to access the town and economic activities (Ismail Ali & Mohammad Raduan, 2007, pp.233). The river bank area chosen must not exceed 6 feet of water level, and must not be inside a valley in between two hills. This is because according to Bruneian Malay belief, a mountain area like this is the passage of djinns and spirits. If a house is built in this area, it will obstruct the movements of the djinns and spirits, and eventually, this will cause the house owner harassed by these beings and easily fall ill.4 If a piece of land suits the desired characteristics is found, it will be marked with stakes, a sign that the land is already owned by someone. The stakes will be placed in every corner, and about 12 to 16 stakes will be used. Normally the stakes are made from mangrove wood or nipa palm branches, and each stake is about 12 feet height (Ismail Ibrahim, 1996, p. 102). The height is enough for the stakes to be visible when the water level rises. It should be explained that before building a new house in a water village, the future house owner will have to submit a written application to the village chief. The application must state the agreement of the house owner's future neighbours for the construction of the new house near their houses. The neighbours will need to sign the application letter before the letter is given to the village chief. 59 The Construction of Traditional Water Village House of Bruneian Malay in Limbang, Sarawak This rule of constructing new houses in water villages is enforced in the 1980s to avoid any possible problems between the new house owners and the neighbour.5 This rule of obtaining the agreement of neighbours has the result the villagers to settle in areas with their family clans. Similar rules have been practising earlier by the Bruneian Malays of the water villages of Kampung Ayer Brunei Darussalam (KABD). Under Circular No 5/1982 set by Brunei-Muara District Office, construction of houses in KABD has to be in accord with the seven rules mentioned in the circular, and one of the rules is the agreement of neighbours.6 This rule is to regulate the constructions of houses in KABD so that the area will not be crowded with houses (Aisah Sahdan, 1983/1984, pp. 28-31). Since the Bruneian Malays have a close relationship with the Malays of Limbang water villages, the same rule is practised by the letters as well. Both communities are often noted to exchange ideas and thoughts with each other. Choosing Appropriate Time to Build the Houses Month to build the houses A special procedure is conducted to select the auspicious months to build the pillars of the house. Bruneian Malays believe that constructing the house pillar inauspicious months will bring fortune to the newly built house and expel any possible misfortune of the inhabitants. Alimin Abdul Hamid has pointed out that Bruneian Malays avoid building houses in months perceived to bring ill fortune: …the months considered as not suitable to build houses are Muharram and Safar. The month of Muharram is deemed to be the inauspicious to do all kinds of work. The elders say that the month of Muharram is the month of the kings, while the first to the eighth of Safar are seen as auspicious days; after the eighth of Safar until the end of the month (the period) is considered as the month of Nas. (Alimin Abdul Hamid, 1996, p. 111) To determine the auspicious months, elders and experienced relatives will be consulted, which in turn will refer to the advice as recorded in the Kitab Tajul Muluk. The Malays of Limbang claim that Bruneian Malays of KABD are more skillful in selecting auspicious months,7 and that they learned this knowledge from the Bruneian Malays of the water villages. 60 Amaluddin Bakeri & Mohammad Raduan Mohd. Ariff Kitab Tajul Muluk gives the following ways to determine the auspicious months: … if a house is built at the beginning of the month of Muharram, chaos and sickness shall be with the house owner; he who builds a house on the month of Safar, he shall obtain countless treasures and knowledge; he who builds the house on the month of Rabiu’akhir shall encounter difficulties and have ill health; and he who builds a house on the month of Jamadil’awal shall procure treasures and slaves; and he who builds a house on the month of Jamadil’akhir shall suffer from illness and poverty, he who builds a house on the month of Rejab shall suffer from disputes and illness; and he who builds a house on the month of Syaban shall obtain the glories of the world and the hereafter; he who builds a house on the month of Ramadhan shall procure wealth and knowledge; and he who builds a house on the month of Syawal shall be swallowed by disease or his house destroyed by fire, and he who builds a house on the month of Zulkaedah shall obtain slaves and wealth, or knowledge and friendship; and he who builds a house on the month of Zulhijjar shall be given Allah gold and silver and all the halal animals like water buffalos and cows and sheep and rice and paddy and slave. (Kitab Tajul Muluk, n.d., p. 69) Based on the instructions of Kitab Tajul Muluk, Bruneian Malays of water villages would choose to build their houses on the auspicious months of Safar, Jamadil'awal, Syaban, Ramadhan, Zulkaedah, and Zulhijrah. Ismail Ibrahim further discusses the custom of Bruneian Malay choosing the auspicious months for building houses: … the time for building the first pillar is based on Malay months and days according to the Hijrah years like the months of Safar, Jamadi’awal, Syaban, Ramadhan, Zdulkaedah [sic] and Dzulhijjah. (Ismail Ibrahim, 1996, p. 102) By constructing the houses in the months deemed to be auspicious, Bruneian Malays hope their endeavour will be without flaws and will be blessed by Allah. It is believed that if a house is built in an inauspicious month, 61 The Construction of Traditional Water Village House of Bruneian Malay in Limbang, Sarawak the builder will encounter accidents like falling while building the house (Alimin Abdul Hamid, 1996, p. 111). Day and then time to build the houses For Bruneian Malays, choosing the day of building the house is conducted so that group work of building the house can be attended by as many nearby relatives and neighbors as possible, since building a house in the water village involves a large number of people, especially when building the pillars and the frame of the house.