Sarawak deputy chief minister Alfred Jabu Numpang, who is defending the Layar seat for the eighth consecutive term, has issued a stern warning to vote canvassers from the peninsula, warning them not to cause trouble.

alfred jabu miring ceremony betong 060411 ritual Speaking during a traditional Iban miring ceremony in  Betong, 60km north of Sri Aman, Jabu said this was “sincere advice” because locals might take offence with the campaigners' antics.

"If you bring trouble here, you better return before you offend the people in Betong. If you think you want to create trouble, think twice.

"If you offend the feelings of Betong people... it is our tradition here to defend our peace... please play in a gentlemanly fashion, don't disturb the harmony here," he told some 200 BN supporters in a newly-constructed sports complex.

"If you don't behave, if you offend the people, I'm not in a position to control the people you offend," he said.

Jabu was clearly referring to opposition party volunteers and workers who have been streaming into Sarawak to back the Pakatan Rakyat campaign machinery.  

Betong is the parliamentary constituency under which three state seats - Layar , Bukit Saban and Saribas fall.

Prayer for harmony and peace

Miring is a traditional ceremony in the Iban community to honour the gods, spirits and ancestors and to seek blessings. The ceremony last night was to mark the eve of nomination day.

According to Jabu, who explained the ritual in English before it started, the participants were asking their ancestors to grant them strength and victory in the polls.

alfred jabu miring ceremony betong 060411 opening ceremony The prayers were also for continued harmony and stability of the state, and for the federal and state governments to continue bringing prosperity to the people, said Jabu.

The BN candidate for Bukit Saban, Robert Lawson Chuat Vincent, was also present at the event.

The ceremony was led by a tuai biau or lemambang biau (ceremony head), who held a rooster while chanting prayers in the Iban language.

All the tuai rumah (longhouse heads) and penghulu (village heads) sat around the offerings throughout the ceremony.

The offerings included pulut (glutinous rice) in bamboo, fruits, wine, emping (a local snack), penganan (a sweet), daun sirih (betel leaves) and eggs.

BN documents used during prayer

Some documents carrying the BN logo and another stack of documents, believed to be the electoral roll, were placed beside the offerings.

alfred jabu miring ceremony betong 060411 electoral roll When the lemambang biau finished the first round of prayers, three feathers were plucked from the rooster's head. These were given to the lemambang biau to bless the offerings.

Then, those who sat around the offerings were given a plate each, and they placed a portion of each offering on their plates.

According to those who familiar with the ritual, the plates are taken back to longhouses and placed at a spot in the longhouses to bring blessings to the residents. The offerings may also be thrown in a padi field or river to honour the gods.

The ritual finished late at night and the participants stayed back for a chit-chat session.

This is also a common ritual performed by the Iban community before an election to seek blessings for the candidates.