Sabah’s Ethnic Folklore Brought to Life in New Anthology Duharung Paragasu

13 August 2025

KOTA KINABALU: A newly launched short story anthology titled Duharung Paragasu showcases the rich and diverse folklore traditions of Sabah’s Indigenous ethnic groups, capturing supernatural, mystical, and eerie tales rooted deeply in local oral heritage.

Featuring 18 short stories by ethnic Momogun writers from across Sabah, Duharung Paragasu presents readers with reinterpretations of ancestral legends, village ghost stories, sacred taboos, and myths that have long been passed down through generations.

Each story is inspired by the unique landscape, beliefs, and lived experiences of communities such as the Dusun, Murut, and other ethnic groups from areas including Keningau, Ranau, Kota Belud, and Papar. Stories such as Tulang Sorui dari Belantara Bukit Morou-Porou (Jalumie Mujit – Ranau), Anjing Si Dhunggon (Azlan Raymond Majumah – Matunggong), and Turugung (Ramlee Jalimin Jainin – Keningau) draw directly from local legends that are still widely remembered in the villages where they originated.

Dr Henry Bating

Among the standout stories in Duharung Paragasu is Anna Vivienne’s Pokikitonon: Pertemuan Misteri, which explores mysterious flashes from the past, blurring the line between memory and the supernatural. Her narrative raises compelling questions about time, perception, and the unseen forces that may shape human experience.

Meanwhile, Kathirina Susanna Tati’s Selamat Tinggal Gonsurai offers a poignant reflection on the transition from tradition to modernity. Through the lens of cultural change, her story captures the emotional and spiritual cost of leaving behind ancestral ways in a rapidly evolving world.

The anthology was curated and published under the guidance of Dr Henry Bating, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language (PPIB), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). According to Dr Henry, the book’s primary aim is to preserve and elevate the intangible cultural heritage of Sabah's Indigenous communities by documenting stories that are rarely found in mainstream literature.

“These stories are drawn from authentic legends and oral narratives that remain alive within the communities. By presenting them in written form, we’re not only preserving them but also creating space for them in Malaysia’s national literary landscape,” said Dr Henry, who also contributed the closing story, Duruwangon, based on Dusun mythologies from Tenom.

The anthology also serves an educational purpose. As noted by Professor Datuk Dr Ismail Ali, Dean of PPIB UMS, the collection supports the centre’s efforts in promoting ethnic language and culture, including through compulsory Kadazandusun language courses offered at the university.

“The stories reveal much about the evolution of Indigenous civilisations in Sabah, set in landscapes of forest, hills, and coastlines. They reflect traditional beliefs and ways of thinking that are rapidly changing in modern times,” he said.

Stories such as Pusohinon (Simon Sumin Dugok – Papar), Tuot-Tuot (Saindim Sadah – Kota Belud), and Tetamur Rimba (Monsu Godon – Beaufort) tap into long-standing animist and spiritual worldviews, while others incorporate taboos and superstitions, known locally and regionally as pamali, that remain influential in rural life.

The book has already gained attention beyond Malaysia. During a recent academic discourse co-organised by PPIB UMS and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), Indonesian literature scholar Nuri Hermawan from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) noted that the stories share similarities with horror-folklore narratives that are popular in Indonesian cinema.

“These stories are rich in local detail – not only in setting and belief systems, but in their emotional tone and cultural context. They resonate with the Dayak communities of Borneo and even with audiences in the Philippines due to shared maritime and tribal heritage,” she said.

The publication of Duharung Paragasu, which had been delayed since 2021, comes at a timely moment as UMS and UNAIR deepen their academic cooperation in regional literary studies across the Nusantara region, including within the BIMP-EAGA zone.

Ultimately, the anthology is a testament to the living traditions of storytelling in Sabah and the continued relevance of ethnic folklore in shaping identity, memory, and imagination.

“We hope this book contributes not only to literature but also to a broader understanding of Malaysia’s multicultural heritage,” said Dr Henry.