Another ritual to appease spirits next month — KDCA
KOTA KINABALU: The discussion to hold another ritual ceremony to appease the spirits on Mount Kinabalu is still ongoing.
Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) executive secretary Dr Benedict Topin told the Borneo Post that the event is likely to take place on July 2 or July 3.
He said that it was taking longer to plan as many of the other native communities residing at the affected districts/areas wanted to partake in the event.
Dr Benedict also said that the organising of the event should coincide with the full moon.
He added that some of the ethnic folks had already carried out their rituals but still wanted to join the upcoming ceremony although they would not be taking part in the recital process.
Dr Benedict, when interviewed, also expressed his own views on the misfortunes that had befallen Sabah and said that the incidences in the State were merely a window to what was occurring in the world today.
He believed that humans were connected to their surroundings and that their actions do have impacts on all that surrounded them.
“The bobolians have spoken about the ‘heat’ (ahasu) effect and how the people’s immoral or ‘sumbang’ activities have contributed to the ‘effect of the heat’.”
He added that according to the Bobolians who had already carried out their ceremony, the spirits were unhappy because the people had acted against the flow of the ‘adat’ (belief) and had allowed various acts that were considered ‘sumbang’ to take place on the mountain.
He cited that one of those mentioned by a Tuaran Bobolian was concerning the scattering of ashes belonging to a dead person on the mountain and this action was not in arrangement with the ‘system’ of the mountain.
“This fact was corroborated by the National Park’s rangers, but they said this was a long time ago. Nevertheless, the bobolian came out with this revelation,” he said.
He added that what occurred on the mountain over the years were a result of the accumulation of many ‘sumbang’ activities.
For things to improve, Dr Benedict believed that it required the effort of many.
“The whole humankind need a kind of revision in life. A new way to live without greed. The world can provide for everyone but not greed.”
He added that in Sabah, the local inhabitants have always been blamed that their slash and burn activities have disrupted the forest.
“But the disruption of forest in the name of multinational firms is more major in the destruction of habitats.”