The History of Punan Kakus is about Punan migration from Rejang River to Kakus and Tatau watershed since 16th century. The Punan is also known as Punan Bah in numerous literatures to distinguish them from the so call Punan in Sarawak. They are officially group as Kajang in the Malaysian Constitution and Sarawak indigenous peoples. Since middle of 18th century influx of Punan begin migrating to Kakus and Tatau to escape Kayan subjugation. The Punan is numbered approximately 6000 individuals in 2016.

1. The History
of Punan Kakus

2. Acknowledgment
This short articles is part of PNA (Punan National Association) efforts to
document Punan untold stories, oral traditions, often seen insignificance.
© 2016 Calvin Jemarang / Punan National Association
Content in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0),
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The History of Punan Kakus. Kuching,
Sarawak. Malaysia.
Photos credit: Google Images /PNA
Punan National Association
No. 5, Taman Megajuta, Lorong 1C1,
Batu Kawa, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak.
MALAYSIA
punan.org
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3. The Punans most likely started migrating to Kakus watershed in the
16th century (1600) in small groups, from Ba River, a tributary of
Rejang – where the Punan Ba longhouse is located. These groups
initially settled on the upper reaches of Kakus cultivating the lands
and exploiting nearby jungle resources, particularly bird nest from
the caves as source of income.
The migrations heightened in the middle of 18th century (circa
1770-1790) period (Guerreiro 1988), as the exodus of Kayan from
Apo Kayan in Kalimantan began moving down Rejang River forcing
Punan fleeing the region to avoid subjugation.
Kakus River was largely inhabited at the time, with the Tatau
occupying only the Tatau and Anap watershed. The Iban has yet to
move in. The fertile undulating plain of Kakus and Tatau River were
all to the Punan and Tatau peoples, albeit with some frictions when
the latter began moving downriver to Anap and Tatau Rivers.
Soon however, animosity turns to friendship when one of the Punan
– Tugang married into a Malong family, the heir of the longhouse
and formed his own Punan quarters among the Tatau (c.f S.G Jan
22nd 1878). Malong refers to one of Tatau longhouse in the area
(Sandin 1970), believed to be near the present day Tatau town.
Tugang or Tigeang as he known to the Punan, longhouse is believed
to be situated near the keliriengs (mortuaries) still standing to these
days at Tatau. The Punan population increased steadily over this
period due to influx of Punan from Rejang, fleeing the turmoil
caused by Kayan and Iban rivalry.
Another reason was Kakus offers attracted by the economic
opportunities – logging, bird nest, and champor found abundance in
the area. During this period the Punans were led Penghulu Nipah
(S.G Dec 1, 1909) the first Punan appointed Penghulu by the
Brooke Administration.
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4. Somehow, the Tatau population mysteriously dwindling rather
rapidly, as their favorite myth suggest exterminates by frequent ‘​selid
1
’ after eating killing a dragon (Sandin 1970; Nicolaisen 1976).
In the middle of 19th century several Iban settlements began sprung
up along the Tatau River, few even moved farther upriver to near
the confluence of the Tatau and Anap Rivers. The Iban inevitably
push the Punan and Tatau –living near present day Tatau town, to
Kakus River, where they remain to these days. Until 1960, no Iban
settlements were found in Kakus watershed.
PUNAN KAKUS SPLIT
The group established several temporary longhouses along the way –
on the confluence of Tatau-Anap-Kakus Rivers. Then, they moved
upriver, putting up on the opposite bank of the current village until
1947 (S.G. 147).
1
In local myth “selid” (Punan) or “kudi” in Iban – can’t find it English equivalent. Somehow selid is
believed to be caused not observing taboo such as killing wild unnatural disasters
PUNAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION​. 4

5. It was a temporary longhouse though; they were still searching the
areas for suitable locations. A group led by Gisak and Uvang who
went downriver, suggested two places – ​Lirung ​Senapang and Mina
2
River.
Keseng having found no suitable location upriver chose Mina River.
Then told Gisak and Uvang group to move first and that the rest
would follow later. Somehow, Keseng changed his mind later.
Instead of relocating downriver with the Gisak group, he decided to
move the Punan Kakus across the river – to the right bank, where
they are found today.
But the group led by Gisak having already in the mid of building a
new longhouse at Mina River (see S.G. 1947), were reluctance to
move back upriver. Keseng insisted they should back upriver, and
when persuasion didn’t work he threatened to fine (​mukum​) them.
However, Gisak argued it was Keseng who should be fined as he
had reneged on his earlier pledge to move downriver as well.
Eventually, Keseng relented and the issue was amicably settled, both
parties paid no fine. Nicolaisen (1976) asserts the Punan Kakus split
was a result of power struggle between the aristocrats. But my
informants from the two longhouses insisted it didn’t.
Perhaps, initially, as Gisak was an equally charismatic, capable and
intelligent man they remembered. So having laid the golden
opportunities – a political misstep on Keseng part, Gisak just seized
unexpected opportunity to eventually break away from the latter
rule.
Thus, in a census conducted by Brooke Administration in 1947-48
the newly established Punan Mina (Rh.Gisak) and Punan Kakus (Rh.
Keseng) longhouses were excluded (see Leach 1948:26) from the
census. The total number of Punan population in 1948 (7 longhouse
– Pandan, Jelalong, Mina, Kakus, Ba, Biau and Sama) were about
2
Lirung means meander.
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6. 600 (Needham 1955:31) excluding the population of Punan Mina
and Kakus.
Currently the Punan Mina is a mixed longhouse with the Punan
make up the majority, with sizeable numbers of Iban and Tatau
peoples as result of inter-marriages. The longhouse first chief was
Gisak, then Kenai and now Arjey.
After Bilong death, power struggles started brewing in Kakus. In
2008, fire destroyed the entire length of the old longhouse built
since 1947. As the heat of the burned longhouse cools, the heat of
the rebellion turn into sparks, then ignited into flames.
Nearly half of the old longhouse population estimated to be 500
individuals break away from Ado – forming their own dominion
nearby led by Jayan, Kitup and a lady – named Kiah. The other half
– however, remains loyal to Ado Bilong and rebuilds a new village
on the old longhouse site – as shown in the map above.
The Punan in Kakus paramount chief in Penghulu Sanok Magai.
Before Sanok was his father Penghulu Magai and Penghulu Kanun.
This short article is part of Punan National Association (PNA) efforts to
record Punan tradition and history. You are welcome to join PNA. Click here
for​[ ​online registration​]
Works cited
Brooke, Charles Anthoni Johnson. Ten years in Sarawak. Vol. 1.
Tinsley brothers, 1866.
Guerreiro, Antonio. “Cash crops and subsistence strategies:
Towards a comparison of Kayan and Lahanan economies.”
Sarawak museum journal​39.60 (1988): 15-52.
Leach, E.R. Report on the possibilities of a social economic survey
of Sarawak.(mimeographed).1948. London
Needham, Rodney. “Punan Ba.” Journal of the Malayan Branch of
the Royal Asiatic Society 28.1 (169 (1955): 24-36.
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7. Nicolaisen, Ida. “Form and Function on Punan Bah
Ethno-historical Tradition.” Sarawak (The) Museum Journal
Sarawak 24.45 (1976): 63-95.
Sandin, Benedict. The Tatau People of the Kakus and Anap Rivers.
Fourth Division, Sarawak. Sarawak Museum Journal, Vol.
XVIII, Nos, 36-37.
Sarawak Gazette, Jan. 22nd, 1878.
Sarawak Gazette, Dec. 1, 1909
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