BY JAMES WONG & ALEXANDRA LORNA
KUCHING: Nyukan Yan, also known as Muk Torres, one of Sarawak’s iconic “Ring Ladies” from Kampung Semban, passed away on Tuesday (Dec 17) around 5 am at her son’s residence in Kampung Semban, Bengoh Resettlement Scheme (BRS).
She was 82, and her death was attributed to old age. She leaves behind seven children, 13 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren.
Family, friends, and local dignitaries will pay their last respects to her at Kampung Semban before her funeral at 10 am today (Dec 19) at the Pagan cemetery site in BRS.
Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin expressed his condolences, describing her death as a profound loss for the Puncak Borneo community.
“She was among the last of the ‘Ring Ladies’ from our area. Her passing is a great loss to our community in Puncak Borneo.
“I would like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest condolences to her family,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
In 2010, there were eight iconic Bidayuh “Ring Ladies”, dubbed the last of their kind. By 2015, only five remained.
Now, only three survive: Singai Nekan, 78; Peluk Abeh, 73; and Tawud Luhan, 78.
Ranyu Daiee passed away at the age of 83 in 2020, and Nyadi Dollah passed away at the age of 92 in 2022.
The “Ring Ladies” were active members of the Kampung Semban cultural troupe and were frequently invited to perform at state and national events.
In 2016, the group performed at Lo Spirito Del Pianeta, an international festival celebrating indigenous peoples and tribal groups, in Milan, Italy.
In 2019, they were invited by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture to participate in ITB (Internationale Tourismus-Börse) Berlin, the world’s largest international tourism exhibition.
This year, Sarawak’s iconic “Ring Ladies” welcomed two new members: Anat Ungom, 52, and Dashin Ngarong, 64, who are helping to preserve this unique cultural heritage.
