LIMBANG: A dedicated research team is collaborating closely with the Bisaya community in northern Sarawak to document and protect traditional knowledge of local plants before it disappears with time.
Backed by a special grant from Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, the initiative also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting quality education, sustainable communities, and life on land.
The research is spearheaded by Dr Dilah Tuah of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in collaboration with Associate Prof. Dr Chong Shin of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
The project aims to collect the names of plants in the Bisaya language and understand their roles in healing practices, food preparation, rituals, and everyday life.
“These plants are more than just useful resources.They carry the stories, beliefs and values of the Bisaya people,” Dilah explained.
The team conducted fieldwork across several villages in the Limbang district, engaging with elders, traditional healers, and local speakers to document over 100 unique plant terms that reflect the Bisaya community’s deep-rooted connection to their natural environment.
Among the culturally significant plants identified are ‘sesubu’, placed in rice storage areas to ensure a bountiful harvest, ‘sandiong’, used to treat skin ailments, and ‘keladi tikur’, believed to aid in early cancer treatment, all of which are closely linked to the Bisaya community’s spiritual and ceremonial traditions.
Penghulu Lalam Sambat, head of the Bisaya community in Limbang, played a key role in supporting the fieldwork by sharing his extensive knowledge of local flora and its traditional uses, emphasising the importance of safeguarding this heritage for future generations.
The researchers also analysed how the Bisaya language conveys plant knowledge through metaphors, repetition and classification, but noted a worrying trend as many younger community members are unfamiliar with these terms due to language shifts and changing lifestyles.
To address this, the team is preparing two publications, one by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak for the general public and another as a more in-depth academic resource for scholars and students, both aimed at bolstering education, research and cultural appreciation.
“This project is a strong example of how universities can partner with local communities to preserve traditional knowledge and ensure its relevance today,” said Chong.
Looking ahead, the team plans to expand the study to include plant names in other Bisaya dialects, and organise intergenerational workshops where elders can share their knowledge directly with the youth, aiming to bridge generational gaps and ensure the continuity of traditional practices.
