Bratak Hill
| Bratak Hill | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 400 m (1,300 ft)[1] |
| Coordinates | 1°28′2″N 110°5′28″E / 1.46722°N 110.09111°E |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Bung Bratak (Bau Bidayuh) |
| Geography | |
| Country | Malaysia |
| State | Sarawak |
| Division | Kuching |
| District | Bau |
Bratak Hill (Bau Bidayuh: Bung Bratak) is a hill located in Bau District, Kuching Division, Sarawak. The hill is located about 39 kilometres (24 mi) from Kuching, the capital of Sarawak.
History
The earliest inhabitants of the hill is the Bidayuh tribes, particularly the Jagoi-Bratak group, as they are believed to be migrating from Mount Sungkong, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.[2] It is believed that the reason for migration among them is to seek for more land for planting paddy fields and to avoid the spreading of infectious diseases.[3]
Around 1838, the Skrang Ibans who aligned to warlord Pengiran Mahkota invaded the Bratak hill area for head hunting.[4] The male inhabitants of the hill were slaughtered, while women and children were enslaved. According to James Brooke's report, from the invasion, the population of Bidayuh who inhabitated the hill dwindled from 230 families to 50 families.[5] Under the leadership of Panglima Kulow, with the help of the White Rajah, the settlements of Bratak hill was rebuilt in 1841. After 1841, the people of Bratak hill has emerged to approximately 30 villages in Bau and Lundu districts.[6]
Bung Bratak Heritage Centre
Bung Bratak Heritage Centre (BBHC) was a project initiated by Bung Bratak Heritage Association.[3] The construction of the centre costed MYR8 million which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Tourism and Culture.[7] It is constructed on the top of the hill, which held significant historical value towards the Jagoi-Bratak Bidayuhs.
Bung Bratak Day
Every 1 May, an annual event which is called Bung Bratak Day is held in this hill.[8] The event is celebrated to commemorate the invasion of Skrang Iban in 1838. The declaration of the celebration of this day was first sent to the Dayak Bidayuh National Association in 1988.[6]
On this day, the showcase of Bidayuh culture like traditional dance, music and cuisine will be hosted by the Bidayuh community.[8]
References
- ^ Melvin Joni (4 May 2019). "Bung Bratak tapak bersejarah ekopelancongan Borneo". Berita Harian (in Malay). Archived from the original on 4 June 2024.
- ^ Deva Fosterharoldas Swasto; Dwita Hadi Rahmi (26 June 2023). Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Indonesian Architecture and Planning (ICIAP 2022): Beyond Sustainability Through Design, Planning and Innovation. ISBN 978-981-99-1402-9.
- ^ a b Cotter, Joy Natalie (13–14 October 2022). "Cultural Sustainability in Architecture: Case Study of Bung Bratak Heritage Centre" (PDF). Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Indonesian Architecture and Planning (ICIAP 2022): Beyond Sustainability Through Design, Planning and Innovation. Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-981-99-1403-6.
- ^ James Alexander Ritchie (4 June 2021). "Untold stories of Sarawak's brave Bidayuh". Sarawak Tribune.
- ^ James Brooke; Charles Brooke (1909). A history of Sarawak under its two white Rajahs, 1839-1908. ISBN 978-981-99-1402-9. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ^ a b "Bung Bratak Heritage Site Symbol Reminder of Bidayuh People's Resilience". Dayak Daily. 3 September 2023.
- ^ "Pusat Warisan Bung Bratak terima geran RM500,000 daripada kerajaan negeri" (in Malay). Bernama.
- ^ a b Sim, Ashley (8 April 2024). "Experience vibrant festivities of Bidayuh culture as Bung Bratak Day returns this May 1". DayakDaily. Retrieved 3 September 2025.