Borneo Research Journal https://mjlis.um.edu.my/index.php/BRJ <p style="text-align: justify;">Borneo Research Journal (BRJ), a multidisciplinary <strong>double-blind</strong> peer-reviewed journal published annually by the <a title="Department of Southeast Asian Studies" href="https://fass.um.edu.my/departments/south-east-asian-studies/overview" target="_blank">Department of Southeast Asian Studies</a>, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,&nbsp;<a title="University of Malaya" href="https://www.um.edu.my/" target="_blank">University of Malaya</a>. This journal is concerned with research results in Borneo Island focusing on social science and humanities of this island. The journal would like to invite all discourse by sending their paper between 6000 to 8000 words. Contribution in the form of review essay (5000 words) and a book review (1500 words) are welcome. All contributions are in British English and follow the <strong>APA style (Version 7) for citations and references</strong>.</p> <p><strong>eISSN : 2600-8645</strong><br><strong>Print ISSN: 1985-5443</strong><br><strong>Publisher: University of Malaya</strong><br><strong>Publication type: Printed and Electronic</strong><br><strong>Publication frequency: December, 1 time per year</strong></p> <p><strong>Indexed by:</strong></p> <p><strong><img src="/public/site/images/borneojournal/MYCITE1.jpg" alt=""></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Department of Southeast Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya en-US Borneo Research Journal 1985-5443 <p><strong>BORNEO RESEARCH JOURNAL PUBLICATION ETHICS &amp; PUBLICATION MALPRACTICE STATEMENT</strong></p> <p>These guidelines are fully consistent with the COPE Principles of Transparency and Best Practice Guidelines and the COPE Code of Conduct (<a href="https://publicationethics.org/">https://publicationethics.org</a>).</p> <p>&nbsp;We encourage the best standards of publication ethics and take all possible of principles of transparency and measures against publication malpractices. The Department of Southeast Asian Studies as the publisher of Borneo Research Journal plays its roles of guardianship over all processes of publishing seriously and we perform our ethical and other tasks.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>General duties and responsibilities of editors</strong></span></p> <p>&nbsp;Editors should be accountable for everything published in their journals.&nbsp;This means the editors should strive to meet the needs of readers and authors; constantly improve their journal; have processes in place to assure the quality of the material they publish; champion freedom of expression; maintain the integrity of the academic record; preclude business needs from compromising intellectual and ethical standards; and always be willing to publish corrections, clarifications, retractions and apologies when needed.&nbsp;In addition to these general duties, the editors accept the obligation to apply best will and practice to cope with the following responsibilities:&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Editorial Board</strong></span></p> <p>Editorial board will&nbsp;be generated&nbsp;from recognized experts in the field. The editor will provide full names and affiliations of the members as well as updated contact information for the editorial office on the journal webpage.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Duties of Reviewers</strong></span></p> <p>&nbsp;<strong><em>Contribution to Editorial Decisions</em></strong></p> <p>Peer review assists the editor in making editorial decisions and through the editorial communications with the author may also assist the author in improving the paper.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Duties of Authors</strong></span></p> <p>&nbsp;<strong><em>Reporting standards</em></strong></p> <p>Authors should follow the format of reporting the original research with accurate data gathered. The author should include sufficient detail and references to allow others to replicate the work. It is unacceptable if the author performs malpractices in the paper.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Originality and Plagiarism</em></strong></p> <p>The authors should ensure that they have produced original papers, and must appropriately cite or quoted if the authors have used the work and words of others.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Concurrent Publication</em></strong></p> <p>It is an ethical and acceptable for an author to submit or publish same research or manuscripts in more than one journal or primary publication but&nbsp;should&nbsp;be using different data.<strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Acknowledging the Sources</em></strong></p> <p>Authors should cite properly publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported work.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Paper authorship</em></strong></p> <p>Those who have made a significant contribution to the paper should&nbsp;be named&nbsp;as an author and co-authors. Those who have participated in the aspects of the research, they should be listed as contributors. All co-authors should have seen and approved the final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission for publication.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Announcement and Conflicts of Interest</em></strong></p> <p>All authors should include the financier or grant giver if the manuscript or research financed by the research grant or any financial support body.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><em>Errors in Published Works</em></strong></p> <p>The author is responsible for communicating and co-operating with the editor to retract or correct the paper when a significant error or inaccuracy in his/her published work.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Publication Decisions</strong></span></p> <p>&nbsp;The editor should be responsible for deciding which of the articles submitted to the journal should&nbsp;be published. The validation of the work in question and its importance to researchers and readers must always drive such decisions. The editor may be guided by the policies of the journal's editorial board and constrained by such legal requirements, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. The editor may confer with other editors or reviewers in making this decision.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Peer review Process</strong></span></p> <p>&nbsp;All journal’s content (articles)&nbsp;are subjected&nbsp;to a double-blind, peer-review process. Articles are first reviewed by editors and may&nbsp;be rejected&nbsp;because it is not dealing with the subject matter. Articles that are found suitable for review&nbsp;are then sent&nbsp;to two experts are unknown to each other in the field of the paper.</p> <p>Reviewers are asked to classify the paper as publishable, publishable with amendments and improvements, or rejected.&nbsp;&nbsp;Reviewer’s evaluations normally include the recommendation of what to do with the paper.&nbsp;Reviewer’s comments are then seen by the author.</p> <p>Editors should be ready to justify any important points from the described process. Editors should not reverse decisions on publication. Editors should publish guidance to both authors and reviewers on everything that&nbsp;is expected&nbsp;of them. This guidance should be regularly updated and will refer or link this code.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Fair Play</strong></span></p> <p>The editor should evaluate manuscripts for their intellectual content without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy of the authors. Editors´ decision to accept or reject a paper for publication should be based only on the paper´s importance, originality and clarity, and the study´s relevance to the aim of the journal.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Digital Archiving</strong></span></p> <p>&nbsp;The editor will ensure digital preservation of access to the journal content by the University of Malaya Journal depository section at&nbsp;<a href="http://e-journal.um.edu.my/publish/BRJ/">http://e-journal.um.edu.my/publish/BRJ/</a>&nbsp;and Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia at<a href="http://www.myjurnal.my/public/browse-journal-view.php?id=40">http://www.myjurnal.my/public/browse-journal-view.php?id=40</a>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Confidentiality</strong></span></p> <p>&nbsp;Editor and any editorial staff must keep confidential of all information about a submitted and review process of the manuscript to anyone except the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Publication and Submission fee</strong></span></p> <p>Authors&nbsp;are freed&nbsp;from fees or charges for manuscript processing. Authors pay neither submission nor publication fee beyond eventual conference registration fee (in case conference paper accepted for publication).&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Open Access Policy</strong></span></p> <p>The journal is freely available online. Authors are required to agree with this open access policy which enables unrestricted access and reuse of all published articles. The articles&nbsp;are published&nbsp;under the Creative Commons copyright license policy CC-BY.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Reporting standards</strong></span></p> <p>Authors of papers should present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately in the paper. A paper should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable. Review and professional publication articles should also be accurate and objective, and editorial “opinion” works should&nbsp;be identified&nbsp;as such.&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Originality and Plagiarism</strong></span></p> <p>The authors should ensure that they have written entirely original works and if the authors have used the work and words of others that this has&nbsp;been appropriately cited&nbsp;or quoted.</p> <p>Plagiarism takes many forms, steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own, to use (another's production) without crediting the source, to commit literary theft, to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.&nbsp;Plagiarism in all its forms constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> THE CIVIL COURTS AND DETERMINATION OF NATIVE CUSTOMARY LAND RIGHTS: MERELY DECLARING OR MAKING LAWS? https://mjlis.um.edu.my/index.php/BRJ/article/view/21398 <p>It is often said that laws are made by legislature and the judges’ role is only to declare and to interpret those laws. In interpreting the laws, the courts apply laws to new situations thereby developing the law. Indeed, judicial decisions have an important role in clarifying customary rights to land based on native laws and customs in Malaysian Borneo. Although breaches of native laws and customs are within the jurisdiction of the state Native Courts, major disputes over land rights which involve non-native parties have been fought in the federal system of civil courts. This paper looks at judicial decisions relating to the customary practice of <em>pemakai menoa,</em> and argues that recognition of land rights begin with recognition of indigenous legal traditions. To achieve justice and equality, and to prevent the law from being oppressive, the courts must make a conscious inquiry and contextual application of customs. In the light of inherent evidentiary difficulties in adjudicating native claims, this means approaching the rules of evidence, giving due weight to the unique perspectives, the normative values and rights under indigenous legal traditions and customary laws.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Keywords: native law and customs, native customary rghts to land, judicial contextualisation, Pemakai Menoa and territorial rights, Pulau, role of judges</em></p> Ramy Bulan Copyright (c) 0 2019-12-27 2019-12-27 13 1 23 10.22452/brj.vol13no1.1 KERJASAMA SARAWAK DAN KALIMANTAN DALAM MENGHADAPI ANCAMAN KOMUNIS, 1963-1974 https://mjlis.um.edu.my/index.php/BRJ/article/view/15850 <p><strong>Extended Abstract <br>Background:</strong> Sarawak, located in Malaysia and Kalimantan, in Indonesia are two twin regions of Borneo Island that depend on many aspects including political, economic, social and security. The position of the two border areas is very important to keep an eye on in avoiding any issues that can gives a huge impact on the socioeconomic wellbeing. This statement provides a clear message that security aspects must be the government's main agenda in maintaining peace and prosperity. However, in the face of unprecedented security developments in either Sarawak or Kalimantan from 1963 to 1974, leaders from both regions saw the need for the synergy in restoring Sarawak's security due to communist threats to both areas. In ensuring this, Sarawak and Kalimantan believe that diplomatic relations need to be strengthened to facilitate cooperation and assistance when needed. To accomplish this purpose, this paper will describe the military collaboration between Sarawak and Kalimantan from 1963 to 1974. This period was chosen in view of the communist threat in both areas. Communist ideology does not conform to the beliefs and lifestyles practiced by Muslims around the world. In the context of Islamic teachings, this communist ideology is far from a creed and should be rejected altogether because it claims that the Prophet Muhammad was nothing more than a fairy tale created in the eighth century by the command of an Arab Caliph. Regarding the Qur'an, the communists described its contents as a collection of religious clauses, divisions, divisions and mixed laws. The Quran was</p> Emyzul Ismail Arba’iyah Mohd Noor Copyright (c) 2019 Borneo Research Journal 2019-12-27 2019-12-27 13 24 48 10.22452/brj.vol13no1.2 ACCESSING NEWS AMONG THE ELDERLY IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM https://mjlis.um.edu.my/index.php/BRJ/article/view/15628 <p>This paper discusses how the older generation in Brunei Darussalam is adapting to technological changes and how they have shifted from traditional media to using smartphones to access news today. The participants consist of village heads age between 50-75 years old. The method used to collect data is a focus group interview. The participants are divided into three separate categories during the focus group interview. Results showed that the younger group among the three which is the 50-59 and the 60-69 tend to access news from the smartphones. The participants have adapted to the use of technology by using social media apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook as a way of accessing news. Some of the participants also maintained using traditional media such as television, newspapers and radio from time to time because it has become a habit to access traditional media since they were at their young age. The oldest group of participants, age 70-75 solely maintain using traditional media because they have difficulties adapting to technology due to age factor, health reasons as well as lack of adaptability to new technology.<em>&nbsp;</em></p> <p><em>Keywords: older generation, technological changes, smartphones, news, traditional media</em></p> Zureena Abdullah Copyright (c) 2019 2019-12-27 2019-12-27 13 49 62 10.22452/brj.vol13no1.3 LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY IN BOOK AND JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS ON SARAWAK, 1810-2016 https://mjlis.um.edu.my/index.php/BRJ/article/view/21400 <p>This paper focuses on linguistic choice in book and journal publications on Sarawak. It is found that in general, English has lost its formerly quasi-monopoly in book publications on Sarawak in the period since the formation of Malaysia (1963-), in particular since the 1980s, although it is still of great importance. Malay has become an increasingly relevant language of book publications on Sarawak. There is also an interesting body of book publications in Chinese and Austronesian languages from Sarawak, including in Iban since the mid-2000s. Overall, there seems to be a rather stable equilibrium of languages since the early 2000s. In terms of academic journal articles on Sarawak as represented in the Malaysian Abstracting and Indexing database MyCite, a similarly stable equilibrium between English and Malay has been found. The specialised scholarly discourse on Sarawak in the examined contributions from the humanities and the social sciences is mostly conducted in Malay, not English, while a few publications in the social sciences and in all of the sciences, engineering, and medicine, are in English. This linguistic diversity in publications on Sarawak implies that scholars working on Sarawak should be fluent in more than one language.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Keywords: Sarawak, linguistic diversity, English, Malay, Chinese, Iban, humanities, social sciences</em></p> Arndt Graf Copyright (c) 0 2019-12-27 2019-12-27 13 63 80 10.22452/brj.vol13no1.4 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND THE NEW PATH OF MIGRATION IN SABAH, MALAYSIA https://mjlis.um.edu.my/index.php/BRJ/article/view/21141 <p>The establishment of nature conservation projects often bring dilemmas for local communities in Southeast Asia, including in Sabah, Malaysia. On the one hand, the enactment of Kinabalu National Park has triggered the dispossession of local people from their customary lands, but on the other, it offers various economic opportunities. Employing ethnographic method, this article explores the transformation of Dusun community living in nearby Kinabalu Park and its connection to the influx of foreign migrants from Indonesia. Besides Mount Kinabalu, agriculture acts as the core of cultural pattern for the local people. However, the establishment of Kinabalu Park has offered tourism as the more profitable economic sector, therefore, agricultural lands tend to be abandoned, left for the elders and foreign workers from Indonesia. Recently, scores of Indonesian migrant families are inhabiting several villages nearby Kinabalu Park, basing livelihood primarily on vegetable cultivation. Religious factor and the advance communication technology also play role to this migration pattern. According to direct observation, the majority of Indonesian migrants are predominantly Christians, similar to the religion of the host community. With the advent of ICT, these Indonesian migrants living in Sabah ensure that their family ties even though separated by Sulawesi Sea remains unhindered.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Keywords: tourism, migrant, transformation, Kinabalu Park, agricultural land</em></p> Nur Widiyanto Emanuela Agra Copyright (c) 2019 Borneo Research Journal 2019-12-27 2019-12-27 13 81 97 10.22452/brj.vol13no1.5 DAYUNG BORIH, THE CONDUITS OF THE BIDAYUH AND THE SPIRITUAL WORLD https://mjlis.um.edu.my/index.php/BRJ/article/view/19506 <p><em>Dayung Borih</em>, or Bidayuh priestess and <em>Gawai</em> are two important cultural elements within the context of the traditional Bidayuh of Sarawak. This paper examines the role and significance of <em>Gawai</em> and <em>Dayung Borih</em> within the Bidayuh community. The data for this study was collected through a series of interviews and participant observations conducted in two villages in the Bau district.&nbsp; The interviews revealed that the concept of <em>Gawai</em> in the olden days was a form of rituals relating human to spiritual beings with the help of the <em>Dayung Borih </em>acting as mediators.&nbsp; The role of <em>Dayung Borih</em> was not only limited to mediators but also healers whereby healing <em>Gawai </em>were performed by them. The traditional Bidayuh believed that these <em>Dayung Borih</em> were gifted women selected by the spirits themselves. It was a highly respected position within the Bidayuh community but physically, mentally and spiritually demanding for these women.&nbsp; However, the number of <em>Dayung Borih </em>is decreasing and together with it their significant in the community as well as the concept of <em>Gawai </em>which has changed due to modernisation within the Bidayuh community.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Keywords: Bidayuh, priestess, ritual, spirits, communication</em></p> Yvonne Michelle Campbell Damien Mikeng Copyright (c) 2019 Borneo Research Journal 2019-12-27 2019-12-27 13 98 114 10.22452/brj.vol13no1.6 BIRD AS A SUBJECT IN WOOD CARVING MOTIFS: AN OBSERVATION ON BAJAU TRADITIONAL WEAPONS https://mjlis.um.edu.my/index.php/BRJ/article/view/21401 <p>The wood carving on the hilt and sheath (<em>taguban</em>) of parang (machete) created&nbsp;by the&nbsp;Bajau&nbsp;craftsmanship in Kota&nbsp;Belud&nbsp;is well-known for its uniqueness across Sabah. This study discusses the stylisation and value of appreciation from the philosophy of Bajau’s craftsmanship and&nbsp;the influence of&nbsp;the wood carving motif designs. The subject of birds is interpreted as a pattern in wood carving on either on the hilt, the <em>tagubantaguban</em> (sheath) or bladed weapon. Among the examples of bird’s subjects include hornbills, birds, <em>manuk</em> (rooster) and <em>naga</em> (dragons). This study aims to comprehend Bajau’s&nbsp;<em>parang</em> weapons, addressing the bird’s motif and its connection to mythical and cosmological values and why the study of the values expressed Bajau craftsmanship concerning the principles of Malay aesthetics as it expands the cultural reach of the Bajaus across the Malay Archipelago. This research is conducted through in-depth interviews with Bajau <em>parang </em>craftsmen as well as through participant observation at their workshop and exhibitions. Semantic Differential method is used in the research to understand what the larger community of Bajau craftsmen recognise to be the values inherent in their artform. The authors refer to Zakaria Ali’s six principles of Malay aesthetics to understand how the <em>parang</em>-wood carving traditions of the Bajau conform to these principles. It is within this early cosmopolitan history that the bird design motif can be understood as a motif that embodies both local</p> Mohammed Iqbal Badaruddin Simon Soon Luqman Lee Zaimie Sahibil Mohd Shahrul Hisham Ahmad Tarmizi Copyright (c) 2019 2019-12-27 2019-12-27 13 115 138 10.22452/brj.vol13no1.7