Sunday, April 4, 2010

A superblog for East Malaysians

Written by Arimi Sidek



Sasa Superblog aims to achieve the following objectives:

- To foster cordial ties amongst Sabah and Sarawak bloggers
- To become a main listing for Sabah and Sarawak bloggers
- To update online readers with news by Sabahans and Sarawakians, from their point of view and perspectives.

Why sasa superblog?

It is all about blogging horizon expansion. In my case, all this while, I had spent too much time only on certain issues and matters, for example, on kadayans. After more than a decade, it is about time for me to move on, I presumed. And after a long due and lots of consideration, I decided to explore Sasa Superblog concept. Full article here

Sasa Superblog

Written by Arimi Sidek

Introducing Sabah and Sarawak Superblog, or in short, Sasa Superblog. ‘Sasa’ in malay language is also coincides with the meaning of ‘tough’ word in English.



Sasa Superblog aims to achieve the following objectives:

- To foster cordial ties amongst Sabah and Sarawak bloggers
- To become a main listing for Sabah and Sarawak bloggers
- To update online readers with news by Sabahans and Sarawakians, from their point of view and perspectives.

Why sasa superblog?

It is all about blogging horizon expansion, especially in my case. For all this while, I had spent too much time only on certain issues and matters, for example, on kadayans. But after more than a decade, it is about time for me to move on, I presumed. And after a long due and lots of consideration, I decided to explore Sasa Superblog concept.

The target are Sabah and Sarawak bloggers as they need more space online. This is not only about freedom to write, but also about creating a space to be heard. Luckily in pursuing this, we don’t have to squeeze here and there in order to be seen. There are abundant of space on the internet, you bet, and it is also expanding.

FACT: There is always one diehard fan of your blog!

Of course, even without networking your blogging life may also survive. No matter who you are and the type of blog that you might have, there must be at least one die hard fan that follow every word that you wrote, and keep visiting your blog every minute, every day. The person is none other than yourself. But in a long run, you definitely don't want read things that your write in your blog all by yourself!

That is why Sasa project comes about. I believe that blogging isn’t just about writing what we want freely, it is also involves networking and expanding our audience.

On the other hand, I started to think that Sabah and Sarawak bloggers are overly exposed to peninsula’s news, opinion and updates rather than our own backyard. I realize that this is the area that we, Malaysians from Sabah and Sarawak are lacking. It is very easy to access the news on what happen in Perak, Selangor, Kelantan, etc., for example. But what about news that tell us what happen in Tuaran, Beaufort, Selangau, Sibuti, etc.?

Everybody seems to focus on national and peninsula’s news. Those include of mainstream media and newspaper (MSM), online portals, bloggers, and Sabah and Sarawak bloggers as well. So, actually what is happening to us? Aren’t we in Sabah and Sarawak, at the distance of 1,200 km apart from peninsula, also have something to tell the world or not? Is there news about us too?

Join Sasa Network ~ It doesn’t really ask much if you wanna become a member (please click)

For the time being this is the personal project and initiative by me and me alone. But I do not rule out the possibility of collaboration effort in future as I already invited several bloggers to participate as writers. If anyone of you interested to become part of the Sasa team and managing this project altogether, please do not hesitate to contact me. The more the merrier and, I welcome you to jump over the wagon. Thank you.


Arimi Sidek
Kota Kinabalu



Thursday, April 1, 2010

Kedayan Brunei: Menyiut Mangkutut / Bangkutut (udang)

Written by Ali Sofie

Jaga jaga angang, nanti masuk ke dalam seluar!




Orang-orang kedayan kitani suka menyiut mangkutut1. Kegiatan ini biasanya dilakukan di anak-anak sungai, wasai atau arah anak sungai hiliran permandian burung parak, selangkir, kungkot, mantis, sakak dan lainnya.

Menyiut paling digemari semasa musim kemarau kerana anak-anak sungai banyak putus putus dan semasa aing baru naik. Bah, masa-masa begini biasanya ikan BANTANG timbul ke permukaan dan mudah untuk disiut.



1Terdapat variasi sebutan dan ejaan, termasuklah mangkutut, mengkutut, bangkutut dan bengkutut, semuanya merujuk kepada udang air tawar - editor.

Peralatan yang diguna oleh puak Kedayan semasa menyiut termasuklah BAYUNG, BAHAI, PARANG dan SIUT. Bayung adalah diperbuat dari daun mengkuang, buluh yang diraut dan kulit bamban yang sama bentuk dan kualitinya sebagai tempat menyimpan mangkutut yang dapat disiut. Siut pula adalah alat penangkap ikan atau udang. Batang siut biasanya dibuat dari pohon BELUBUH, PAOK, JELAYAN, AKAR PUTIH, DAHANAN dan apa jua yang menyerupai atau sama dengan kualiti kayu-kayu ini. Rawa siut pula diperbuat dari benang nylon dan berbagai bagai jenis.

Semasa menyiut BAHAI jarang ketinggalan sebagai tempat membawa bekalan makanan. Biasanya di dalam bahai atu macam-macam isinya, termasuklah nasi berlauk ikan masin dalam bungkusan UPIH PINANG, ini pun ada.

Disamping digunakan untuk umpan untuk mengail ikan DALAK/TOMAN, haruan dan lain-lain mangkutut juga sedap dimasak tumis serta untuk djadikan SAPAK, yakni sebagai ramuan tambahan dalam masakan sayur. Apalagi kalau dicampur dengan HUMBUT LUBA, BAYAM NOWUR, PUCUK UBI KAYU dan sebagainya.

Mangkutut juga disebut Jangkang

Kalau di Negara Brunei Darussalam khususnya di KAMPUNG SUBOK kedayan di sini menamakan mangkutut besar sebagai JANGKANG. Jangkang anitah yang selalu dicari, biasanya mudah didapati dalam lubang batu dan GEROMBONG BULUH. Sepitnya lebih besar daripada mangkutut biasa kerana usianya yang lebih tua.

Selain mangkutut, yang dapat di siut juga ialah HARAMA GABUK (ketam air tawar). Biasanya bila nenek nenek menyiut, anak cucu selalu minta harama dan mereka jadikan mainan.

Kadangkala, lain yang dicari lain pula yang ditemui. Menyiut mangkutut, tersiutlah pula ANGANG (cicak air). Apabila tersiut binatang angang ani, sipenyiut selalunya bertempiaran melompat ke tebing kerana terkejut dan takut pula kalau-kalau ia menyusup masuk ke dalam seluar atau kain ~walaupun yang namanya KEDAYAN, tetap ada juga yang geli geleman.

Menggetah Parak

Selain kerja menyiut di musim kemarau, sebenarnya ada lagi kerja sampingan puak Kedayan dan mungkin juga ada pada masyarakat lain. Kerja yang dimaksudkan ini ialah menggetah burung Parak yang mandi di anak sungai mengunakan GETAH TIKUS dicampur dengan getah manungan / tarap /nangka. Getah campuran ini dililit pada kayu lurus sebesar pensel dan panjangnya mengikut sesukahati, di Brunei dipanggil Bantiyai. Kayu bergetah ini kemudian dipacakkan di tempat hinggap burung yang bermandi manda. Tempat mandian ini biasanya sama setiap kali dan lazimnya sebahagian akan hinggap ke atas batang kayu yang disimpan getah tikus berkenaan.

Berbalik semula dengan cerita menyiut ani, pada masa ani nampaknya zaman sudah berubah. Tidak hairanlah di setengah tempat kelihatan siut digantikan dengan BUBU BOTOL yang diumpan dengan ikan masin. Ada masanya hasil dari cara ini lebih lumayan daripada menyiut. Cara membuatnya agak senang. Potong kepala botol atu dan terbalikan seperti bubu biasa. Kemudian dicucuk cucuk, ditebuk lubang sedikit supaya airnya keluar dan isinya tinggal di dalam. Mengikut cerita tidak tau darimana sumbernya, BUBU BOTOL ani diperkenalkan oleh masyarakat Thailand yang bekerja di Brunei Darussalam dan jua mungkin ditempat awda (awang dan dayang) di sana.

Atu saja yang dapat aku ceritakan kepada awda mengenai siut ani.

Salam hormat dari Alisofie.