Matu Peat Swamp Town of Rajang,Sarawak. Welcome to Matthew,kata turist Bule... It has been 14 years the last time I went to this small town...and Today,Matu town still preserve its old Wooden Shop Houses and remain like yesteryear without much development.of course there are newly built building for the use of Matu people,and the paint of the building faded without new paint...... Most people here who live in Matu,are Daro-Matu Al-Likaw sub-group(very related to Punan speaking indigenous) who were the earliest indigenous settler on the coastal peat swamp in the Country of Melanau along with other immigrants of small minority of Muslim Malay Brunei clan of Pangeran and Hokkien Chinese Shophouses.Today,the Matu Tribes were included in Melanau indigenous with muslim identities and They mainly adopt the Malay culture even though some of the Melanau cultures are still being maintained.They are very proud that they are Melanau Muslim rather than being part of Majority Malay(under Malayan constitution,if you are a muslim,you are Malay).Matu-Daro-Belawai Melanau language become lingua franca,even the Chinese,Malay and the Iban speak Matu-Daro melanau Language here... Its landmark.....Seraung....The Headgear use by the Matunese in farming/fishing but today,the Headgear are use to represent the Matu Identity especially in Traditional attire of Matu people. How to get to Matu?? From Mukah Town and Sibu Town,good coastal road with a few ferry crossing....No more Mukah-Matu-Daro bus service anymore,one can take a private van. Theres an airport in Belawai and Mukah,then take a van to Matu by coastal road. Those who love nostalgia n antique scenery with peat swamp river n forest.Nothing much changes here.Except new building with faded paint. And most people do not know that there was one lady leader called Orang Kaya Srigunim of Jemoreng and also Brunei Pangeran.Dont forget the Matunese warrior,Sakalai,who helps their cousinTandjung Tribes Saweng in the killing of British officers in Kanowit Fort and also Melanau Longhouse in Kampung Sok. p/s A few of my friends working together in Sibu town in 2000,were from Tian and Jemoreng and I miss them,wonder if they still around in Matu... Magnifico Matthew Borneo Savages 2014
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 07:07:46 +0000