Murut
people (Murut means “Men of the Hills”) are famous for their
headhunting history and bravery. Their traditional warrior costume is
always my favorite, so are their stories. We still could find pieces of
their past in their dance performance and festival (such as Kalimaran
Festival). With a bit of imagination, I try to use some photos to paint a
complete picture of how they looked like in the past…
Photo: Ontoros Antonom Memorial
Standing in the heart of Tenom town is the Memorial of Ontoros
Antonom, a Murut hero who led the uprising against the British colonists
in 19th century. Under the administration of British Chartered North
Borneo Company (BCNBC) more than 100 years ago, besides imposing many
funny taxes, which the locals never heard of, British also forced every
Murut couple, who had two children, to give up one of them as forced
labor.
Photo: Murut warrior get ready for battle
Running out of tolerance, Ontoros Antonom gathered nearly a thousand
of Murut warriors from Tenom, Keningau dan Pensiangan to fight the
British empire in 1915. According to the description in Murut Museum,
the British officers were totally shocked to see hundreds of Murut
flooded their administration building and attacked them. The document
also mentions Ontoros Antonom built a few strongholds that even got
underground tunnels and houses!
Photo: The rise of Murut warriors
In April 1915, British sent 400 soldiers equipped with firearm to
counter attack. Though Murut were only using primitive weapons such as
blowpipes, swords and spears, British army failed to take them down.
Therefore, they set a trap by offering a peace talk at Rundum. When
Ontoros Antonom and his followers were on their way to the venue,
hundreds of British surrounded them and arrested them. Later Ontoros
Antonom was executed. This Sabah hero died at age of only 30 (year
1885-1915). Seeing more and more corrupted, self-interest and big-mouth
Sabah politicians nowadays, the more I respect this hero who loved his
land and really did something for his people.
Photo: Warriors departed for battle
Photo: Murut girl celebrated the victory of the warriors with Anggalang dance
Below are the weapons used by Murut to fight gun and bullets. Note
the hole in the spear. It is a 2-in-1 weapon (Blowpipe + Spear). Also
note the human hair at the end of the headhunter sword. I wanted to buy
the headhunter sword (for appreciation, of course not for headhunting),
but it costs RM300 (nearly USD100). Ok… O_O
Below are the containers that store the darts and poison for blowpipe.
Photo: Murut girls waiting for the return of the Murut warriors
The era of conflict and headhunting has become a thing of the past.
No matter you are British or tourists from other countries, what you
will experience here is very warm welcome from our friendly Murut
people. They will invite you to dance with them and even try the
blowpipe.
Photos taken in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo
Antanom
Daripada Wikipedia, ensiklopedia bebas.
Patung Ontoros Antanom di Tenom.
Antanum atau
Antanom (nama penuh
Ontoros Antanom) (1885-1915) adalah pahlawan
Murut yang terkenal dan perkasa dari
Borneo Utara (kini
Sabah),
Malaysia
yang menurut sejarah lisan tempatan didakwa memiliki kuasa sakti. Oleh
itu dia telah menerima sokongan dari ketua dan penduduk dari kampung
sekitar
Keningau,
Tenom,
Pensiangan dan Rundum dan mendorong kepada kebangkitan Rundum menentang
Syarikat Borneo Utara British tetapi telah terbunuh semasa pertempuran dengan tentera syarikat di Sungai Selangit berhampiran Pensiangan.
[1]
Revolusi Rundum
Dibawah pentadbiran Syarikat Borneo Utara British (
British Chartered North Borneo Company - BCNBC),
selain mengenakan pelbagai cukai yang tidak pernah didengari oleh
penduduk tempatan, pihak British turut memaksa setiap pasangan Murut
yang memiliki dua orang anak untuk menyerahkan seorang dari mereka
sebagai buruh syarikat.
Hilang sabar, Ontoros Antonom mengumpulkan hampir seribu pahlawan Murut dari
Tenom,
Keningau dan
Pensiangan
untuk menentang empayar British pada tahun 1915. Pegawai British
dikejutkan dengan beratus pahlawan Murut membanjiri bangunan pentadbiran
mereka dan menyerang mereka. Ontoros Antonom membina beberapa kubu
dengan terowong bawah tanah dan rumah.
Pada April 1915, pihak British menghantar 400 orang tentera yang
dilengkapi dengan senjata api bagi menyerang balas. Sungguhpun pihak
Murut hanya memiliki senjata asas seperti sumpitan, pedang dan lembing,
tentera British gagal menundukkan merekaDengan itu mereka memasang
perangkap dengan menawarkan perundingan damai di Rundum. Apabila Ontoros
Antonom dan pengikutnya dalam perjalanan ke tapak tersebut, mereka
dikepong dan ditahan oleh beratus-ratus tentera British. Selepas itu
Ontoros Antonom telah dihukum mati oleh pihak British.
[2]