Petua dan Pantang Larang Tradisional dalam Alam Melayu Sarawak
Hamidah Abdul Wahab
ABSTRACT
The Malay community in Sarawak is the second largest indigenous group, after the Ibans. The Malay community is rich in beliefs and generations of practices which become part of the social rules and are shared with others living in the same community. The beliefs and practices are manifested in old folks’ tips or ‘petua orang-orang tua’ that are believed to have influenced their ways of lives. Although the practices of the tips are based on the Islamic religion, there are elements of animism, which have been retained up until now. In view of this, the article will highlight these elements, which show the relationship between the Islamic religion, animistic elements and Sarawak Malay traditional old folks’ tips, particularly from the aspects of the daily life, family life and security. Besides these, the significant of practices of these traditional old folks’ tips are also examined. The outcome of the analysis shows that there are traditional old folks’ tips of the Sarawak Malay community which are closely associated with the abovementioned elements, but with limits and appropriateness based on Islam. The old folks’ tips are useful as a guide to the community in surviving the currents of life, so that they still practiced them now.
Key words: tips, taboo, Islam, animism, Sarawak Malay