Centenarian is centre of attraction at Murut open house

Centenarian is centre of attraction at Murut open house

Delightful delicacies: Two Murut girls seen preparing traditional treats for the ansaluang guests at the Kalimaran Festival held at the Murut Cultural Centre Tenom, Sabah, yesterday. — Bernama

TENOM: Ansaluang or an open house was held for the first time at the Murut Cultural Centre here in conjunction with the community’s Kalimaran Fes­tival which began on Friday.

Among the food served at the open house were traditional dishes like Umbud Imbalua (wild vegetables), Umbus (tapioca leaves), Lamu Binulu(rice cooked in bamboo), Linopod (rice wrapped in leaves) and others made of bamboo shoots, preserved fish and buffalo bones.

Various stage performances and dances were also performed by Murut sub-ethnic groups in the spirit of 1Malaysia.


The centre of attraction at the open house was probably Daud Udin from the Murut Lundayeh tribe who is believed to be the oldest Murut man. Local and foreign visitors were seen taking pictures with the 112-year-old man who was dressed in a traditional Murut outfit.


“This is the second time I have participated in the Kalimaran festival,” said Daud who hails from Kampung Kuala Punti, Membulu in Keningau.

Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Ellron Angin said the open house was in line with the government’s aspiration to popularise local performing arts and promote unity among the people of Sabah.

Meanwhile, Sabah Murut Asso­ciation president Datuk Rubin Balang lauded the proposal by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun to hold thefestival in Kota Kinabalu once in a while to promote it to a wider range of audience.

Rubin said the association would give its full cooperation for the festival to be held in Kota Kinabalu next year. — Bernama