Murut people: Difference between revisions

 

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The Murut are [[Borneo|Bornean]] indigenous people who lived around the [[hill]]s and plains of [[Interior Division]] at the southwestern part of Sabah, particularly in the administrative districts of [[Nabawan District|Nabawan]], [[Tenom District|Tenom]], [[Keningau District|Keningau]], [[Sipitang District|Sipitang]] and its surrounding areas, which extending further south into [[Kalimantan|Indonesian Borneo]].{{sfn|King|2015|p=155}} There are also scattered populations within [[Beaufort District|Beaufort]] along the Sapulut and [[Padas River|Padas]] rivers, [[Tongod District, Malaysia|Tongod]], [[Kinabatangan District|Kinabatangan]], and [[Tawau District|Tawau]] districts.{{sfn|King|2015|p=155}}

The Murut are [[Borneo|Bornean]] indigenous people who lived around the [[hill]]s and plains of [[Interior Division]] at the southwestern part of Sabah, particularly in the administrative districts of [[Nabawan District|Nabawan]], [[Tenom District|Tenom]], [[Keningau District|Keningau]], [[Sipitang District|Sipitang]] and its surrounding areas, which extending further south into [[Kalimantan|Indonesian Borneo]].{{sfn|King|2015|p=155}} There are also scattered populations within [[Beaufort District|Beaufort]] along the Sapulut and [[Padas River|Padas]] rivers, [[Tongod District, Malaysia|Tongod]], [[Kinabatangan District|Kinabatangan]], and [[Tawau District|Tawau]] districts.{{sfn|King|2015|p=155}}

The Muruts of Sabah are divided further between lowland and highland Muruts, the lowland comprising ”Bookan”, ”Dalit”, ”Nabai”, and ”Timugon”, while the highland constitute the ”Alumbis”, ”Kolor”, ”Paluan”, ”Salalir”, ”Sapulut”, ”Sumambu”, and ”Tahol”.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=4}} Among the lowland Muruts, the ”Nabai” mostly lived within the [[plain]]s of Keningau, while the ”Timugon” are within the plains of Tenom.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=4}} Among the highland, the ”Paluan” lived along the Padas River and spread to the east of the Dalit River of Sook of Keningau and west of Sipitang.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=5}} The ”Dalit” within both Dalit and Sook areas of Keningau and along the Pegalan River. In the north of the Rundum area and the Tagol River, another sub-ethnic of the ”Tahol”, the ”Rundum”, lived within the area.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=5}} The main ”Tahol” lived around the areas of Ulu Bole, Kemabong, Tenom, and Tomani, while the ”Kolor” are within the Ulu Bole and Sipitang areas, the ”Sapulut” are within south Sook and the Sapulut River, and the ”Pensiangan” (also known as the ”Lagungan”) are within Sapulut and spread across southeast Serudong and the Kalabakan River.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=5}} Another highland Murut, the ”Tengara, are spread across the Ulu Kinabatangan River, to the western area of the Ulu Kuamut River.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=5}}

The Muruts of Sabah are divided further between lowland and highland Muruts, the lowland comprising ”Bookan”, ”Dalit”, ”Nabai”, and ”Timugon”, while the highland constitute the ”Alumbis”, ”Kolor”, ”Paluan”, ”Salalir”, ”Sapulut”, ”Sumambu”, and ”Tahol”.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=4}} Among the lowland Muruts, the ”Nabai” mostly lived within the [[plain]]s of Keningau, while the ”Timugon” are within the plains of Tenom.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=4}} Among the highland, the ”Paluan” lived along the Padas River and spread to the east of the Dalit River of Sook of Keningau and west of Sipitang.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=5}} The ”Dalit” within both Dalit and Sook areas of Keningau and along the Pegalan River. In the north of the Rundum area and the Tagol River, another sub-ethnic of the ”Tahol”, the ”Rundum”, lived within the area.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=5}} The main ”Tahol” lived around the areas of Ulu Bole, Kemabong, Tenom, and Tomani, while the ”Kolor” are within the Ulu Bole and Sipitang areas, the ”Sapulut” are within south Sook and the Sapulut River, and the ”Pensiangan” (also known as the ”Lagungan”) are within Sapulut and spread across southeast Serudong and the Kalabakan River.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=5}} Another highland Murut, the ”Tengara, are spread across the Ulu Kinabatangan River, to the western area of the Ulu Kuamut River.{{sfn|Ibrahim|2019|p=5}}

The Muruts can also be found inhabiting the border areas of [[Sarawak]], (especially around the [[Lawas]] and [[Limbang]] areas,{{sfn|Edwards|Stevens|1971|p=4}} where they are also referred to as Tagal people), [[North Kalimantan]] (traditionally concentrated in [[Malinau Regency]] and [[Nunukan Regency]]), and [[Brunei]]. The Murut population in Brunei is mainly found in the sparsely populated [[Temburong District]], but are actually consisting of Southern Murut which is more accurately termed “[[Lun Bawang]]”.{{sfn|Edwards|Stevens|1971|p=4}} They once supplied military might to the [[Sultanate of Brunei (1368–1888)|Sultanate of Brunei]]. Their population has dwindled in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brunei: The Abode of Peace |url=http://www.hawaii.edu/cseas/pubs/brunei/brunei.html |access-date=20 April 2007 |archive-date=9 November 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001109024400/http://www.hawaii.edu/cseas/pubs/brunei/brunei.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> They are defined as one of the seven indigenous groups that are considered to be [[Bumiputera (Brunei)|Bumiputera]] in Brunei. The Murut in Brunei and Sarawak (Southern Murut) is ethnically and linguistically different from Murut in Sabah (Northern Murut). In Sarawak, the confusing term “Murut” is hence replaced with the term “Lun Bawang”, while this has not taken place in Brunei.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Keat Gin|first1=Ooi|title=Brunei – History, Islam, Society and Contemporary Issues|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QKgraWbb7yoC&dq=%22They+are+not+to+be+confused+with+the+Murut+of+Interior+Sabah%22&pg=PA272|publisher=Routledge|access-date=3 March 2017|isbn=9781317659983|date=14 December 2015}}</ref> The Northern Murut is more commonly termed “Tagol” or “Tagal” in Brunei and Sarawak. The Murut are divided between lowland (Timugon) and highland (Tagol) subgroups. They speak the [[Murutic languages]], a branch of the [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian family]]. The [[Tagol Murut language]] serves as their ”[[lingua franca]]”.

The Muruts can also be found inhabiting the border areas of [[Sarawak]], (especially around the [[Lawas]] and [[Limbang]] areas,{{sfn|Edwards|Stevens|1971|p=4}} where they are also referred to as Tagal people), [[North Kalimantan]] (traditionally concentrated in [[Malinau Regency]] and [[Nunukan Regency]]), and [[Brunei]]. The Murut population in Brunei is mainly found in the sparsely populated [[Temburong District]], but are actually consisting of Southern Murut which is more accurately termed “[[Lun Bawang]]”.{{sfn|Edwards|Stevens|1971|p=4}} They once supplied military might to the [[Sultanate of Brunei (1368–1888)|Sultanate of Brunei]]. Their population has dwindled in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brunei: The Abode of Peace |url=http://www.hawaii.edu/cseas/pubs/brunei/brunei.html |access-date=20 April 2007 |archive-date=9 November 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001109024400/http://www.hawaii.edu/cseas/pubs/brunei/brunei.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> They are defined as one of the seven indigenous groups that are considered to be [[Bumiputera (Brunei)|Bumiputera]] in Brunei. The Murut in Brunei and Sarawak (Southern Murut) is ethnically and linguistically different from Murut in Sabah (Northern Murut). In Sarawak, the confusing term “Murut” is hence replaced with the term “Lun Bawang”, while this has not taken place in Brunei.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Keat Gin|first1=Ooi|title=Brunei – History, Islam, Society and Contemporary Issues|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QKgraWbb7yoC&dq=%22They+are+not+to+be+confused+with+the+Murut+of+Interior+Sabah%22&pg=PA272|publisher=Routledge|access-date=3 March 2017|isbn=9781317659983|date=14 December 2015}}</ref> The Northern Murut is more commonly termed “Tagol” or “Tagal” in Brunei and Sarawak. The Murut are divided between lowland (Timugon) and highland (Tagol) subgroups. They speak the [[Murutic languages]], a branch of the [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian family]]. The [[Tagol Murut language]] serves as their ”[[lingua franca]]”.

Ethnic group of Borneo

Ethnic group

Murut people
Muruts

6.4% of 51.9% Sabah Bumiputeras (2025)[1] ≈112,900 (2020)[2] (Malaysia)

Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan)[3][5]  Indonesia (North Kalimantan)[6]  Brunei (Temburong District)[8]

Murut Malaysian (Sabah Malay dialect) and Sabahan English (Malaysian Muruts), Indonesian (Indonesian Muruts), and Brunei Malay (Bruneian Muruts)

Christianity (majority Protestantism, some Catholic) (82%), Islam (Sunni) (16%) and Animism (Traditional religion) (2%)

Tidung, Lundayeh, Sino-Murut, Kadazan, Dusun, Rungus, Paitan, Bisaya, Dayak, other Austronesian peoples

The Murut people or simply the Muruts is the collective name of an Austronesian ethnic groups indigenous to Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia as well as North Kalimantan in Indonesia and Temburong District in Brunei. Within Sabah, they primarily live in the Interior Division, primarily in the districts of Nabawan, Tenom, Keningau, Sipitang, and Beaufort, and some in the Sandakan and Tawau divisions, in the Tongod, Kinabatangan, and Tawau districts. Within Sarawak, the Muruts are found within Lawas district in Limbang division, as well as in the Federal Territory of Labuan. Within North Kalimantan, the Muruts reside within both the Nunukan and Malinau regencies.

The Murut ethnic term between both Sabah and Sarawak carries different meanings based on its respective administration classification, where different categorisations are also present in both Indonesia and Brunei. They constitute an indigenous ethnic community comprising 29 distinct sub-ethnic groups dwelling within the northern inland territories of Borneo.^[3] Originally pagan–animist, a majority of them have converted to Protestantism, while the remainder either adhere to other branches of Christianity or to Islam, or else remain with their traditional religion.

Characterised by their rich cultural diversity, the Murutic languages form a linguistic family encompassing approximately half a dozen closely intertwined Austronesian languages. Murut populations exhibit dispersion in Malaysia’s Sabah and the northern part of Sarawak as well as Labuan, in the country of Brunei and the Indonesian North Kalimantan province. Furthermore, the Murut people have close connections with the Tidung, who historically inhabited Borneo’s east coast region that underwent processes of Islamisation and Malayisation.

The term Murut originated from the Brunei Malay ethnic classification term throughout the thalassocracy of the Sultanate of Brunei administration on the western coasts. It is believed to have originated from the Old Malay word turut—ed, which carries the meaning of “to follow”, “to move” or “to go” in the English language since the Murut tribe itself based on its origin history was driven from the interior upriver to land further down. Among the earliest translations is the Malay-English dictionary written by British colonial administrator, diplomat and writer John Crawfurd in 1852, where he described the Muruts as the name of a wild tribe in the north-eastern part of Borneo island. English historian, novelist and travel writer Owen Rutter further described in his writings:

The pagans of British North Borneo are divided into two main tribes, which are given the distinguishing names of Murut and Dusun. These names are however never used by the tribes themselves, but appear to have been applied to them by the Mohammedans invaders (Bajau and Malay). The term Murut is derived from the Bajau word of belud which means “hill” and Dusun is the Malay word for “orchard“. So that Orang Murut and Dusun respectively mean “people of the hills” and “people of the orchards”.

Throughout the British and Dutch period, the Muruts, especially those living on the side of the Raj of Sarawak and Dutch Borneo (Moeroet), are grouped into the larger Dayak umbrella classification through numerous writings, although they are distinct ethnic groups within the broader term. In Sabah, the Murut term is used to jointly describe the various Murut sub-ethnics, such as the Alumbis, Baucan (Bookan), Kolor, Nabai (Nabay), Paluan, Sumambuq (Semambu), Tagal, Tangara (Tenggara/Tangala), and Timugon. The Muruts of Sabah have been categorised as “Northern Muruts”, while “Southern Muruts” is used by anthropologists to describe Muruts living within Sarawak, North Kalimantan of Indonesia, and Brunei. In Sarawak, the Lundayeh tribe are often described as Muruts, which is also sometimes extended to include the Kelabits.^{[notes 1]} The literal translation of Murut is “hill people“.

The Murut are Bornean indigenous people who lived around the hills and plains of Interior Division at the southwestern part of Sabah, particularly in the administrative districts of Nabawan, Tenom, Keningau, Sipitang and its surrounding areas, which extending further south into Indonesian Borneo. There are also scattered populations within Beaufort along the Sapulut and Padas rivers, Tongod, Kinabatangan, and Tawau districts.

The Muruts of Sabah are divided further between lowland and highland Muruts, the lowland comprising Bookan, Dalit, Nabai, and Timugon, while the highland constitute the Alumbis, Kolor, Paluan, Salalir, Sapulut, Sumambu, and Tahol. Among the lowland Muruts, the Nabai mostly lived within the plains of Keningau, while the Timugon are within the plains of Tenom. Among the highland, the Paluan lived along the Padas River and spread to the east of the Dalit River of Sook of Keningau and west of Sipitang. The Dalit within both Dalit and Sook areas of Keningau and along the Pegalan River. In the north of the Rundum area and the Tagol River, another sub-ethnic of the Tahol, the Rundum, lived within the area. The main Tahol lived around the areas of Ulu Bole, Kemabong, Tenom, and Tomani, while the Kolor are within the Ulu Bole and Sipitang areas, the Sapulut are within south Sook and the Sapulut River, and the Pensiangan (also known as the Lagungan) are within Sapulut and spread across southeast Serudong and the Kalabakan River. Another highland Murut, the Tengara, are spread across the Ulu Kinabatangan River, to the western area of the Ulu Kuamut River.

The Muruts can also be found inhabiting the border areas of Sarawak, (especially around the Lawas and Limbang areas, where they are also referred to as Tagal people), North Kalimantan (traditionally concentrated in Malinau Regency and Nunukan Regency), and Brunei. The Murut population in Brunei is mainly found in the sparsely populated Temburong District, but are actually consisting of Southern Murut which is more accurately termed “Lun Bawang“. They once supplied military might to the Sultanate of Brunei. Their population has dwindled in recent years.^[30] They are defined as one of the seven indigenous groups that are considered to be Bumiputera in Brunei. The Murut in Brunei and Sarawak (Southern Murut) is ethnically and linguistically different from Murut in Sabah (Northern Murut). In Sarawak, the confusing term “Murut” is hence replaced with the term “Lun Bawang”, while this has not taken place in Brunei.^[31] The Northern Murut is more commonly termed “Tagol” or “Tagal” in Brunei and Sarawak. The Murut are divided between lowland (Timugon) and highland (Tagol) subgroups. They speak the Murutic languages, a branch of the Austronesian family. The Tagol Murut language serves as their lingua franca.

The Murut were the last of Sabah’s ethnic groups to renounce headhunting. As with the Iban of Sarawak, collecting heads of enemies traditionally served a very important role in Murut spiritual beliefs. For example, a boy could only get married after he presented at least one head to the family of the desired girl.

The Murut were shifting cultivators of hill padi and tapioca, supplementing their diet with blowpipe hunting and with some fishing. They live in communal longhouses, usually near rivers, using the rivers as their highways. Most have now converted to Christianity, with about a fifth of the population being Muslims. However, they still maintain their culture.

Traditional dress for men was a jacket made of tree bark (Artocarpus tamaran), a red loincloth, and a headdress decorated with Argus pheasant feathers. Women wore a black sleeveless blouse and sarong, which fell just below the knees. Like most of the other indigenous groups in Sabah, the Murut decorated their clothing with distinctive beadwork and also made belts out of old silver coins. Another belt made of reddish-brown glass beads plus yellow and blue beads was hung loosely around the waist.

Murut wedding or funeral feasts can last several days. Ancient Chinese jars hold a prominent status in Murut customs. Jars are also a place of spirits, and larger jars were formerly used as coffins.

The Murut have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agung ensembles – ensembles composed of large hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed gongs which act as a drone without any accompanying melodic instrument.^[33][34]

Murut also used bamboo as a musical instrument, by using bamboo to compose songs. Some musical instrument like tangkung (similar to that of a guitar, except it has only two strings) is made from wood. Tangkung is usually played during their leisure time.

Antanum was a famous and influential Murut warrior from Sabah who according to local oral history claimed to have supernatural powers. Because of this, he was able to receive support from the chiefs and villagers from around Keningau, Tenom, Pensiangan, and Rundum and led the Rundum uprising against the British North Borneo Company but was killed during fighting with the company army in Sungai Selangit near Pensiangan.^[35]

The Murut people are divided into three linguistic groups, namely:-

• Murutic languages cluster:
  • Okolod (North Kalimantan, Indonesia)
  • Keningau Murut (Keningau, Sabah, Malaysia)
  • Tagal or Tahol Murut (Sabah, Malaysia and North Kalimantan, Indonesia)
  • Paluan (Sabah, Malaysia)
  • Selungai Murut (North Kalimantan, Indonesia)
  • Timugon Murut (Sabah, Malaysia)
  • Binta Murut (Sabah, Malaysia)
  • Bulusu Murut (Kalimantan, Indonesia)
  • Tingalan Murut (Kalimantan, Indonesia)
  • Agabag Murut (Kalimantan, Indonesia)
• Northern languages cluster:
• Tidong languages cluster:

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• The Sarawak Museum Journal: For the Promotion of Scientific Knowledge and Study of the Natives and Natural History of the Island of Borneo … U.S. Government Printing Office. 1913.
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• Wahsalfelah, Siti Norkhalbi Haji (2007). Textiles and Identity in Brunei Darussalam. White Lotus Press. ISBN 978-974-480-094-7.
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• King, Julie K. (2015). “The Murutic language family”. Languages of Sabah: A Survey Report. C-78. Pacific Linguistics: 155–223. doi:10.15144/PL-C78.155. Archived from the original on 13 January 2026 – via Australian National University Open Research Repository. Text is licensed by Australian National University under CC BY-SA 4.0
• Rudiatin, Endang (7 August 2018). Malayndonesia: Integrasi Ekonomi di Perbatasan Indonesia-Malaysia: Sebatik Kalimantan Utara-Tawau Sabah [Malayndonesia: Economic Integration on the Indonesia-Malaysia Border: Sebatik, North Kalimantan-Tawau, Sabah] (in Indonesian). Bening Era. ISBN 978-602-72045-1-5.
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• Nilan, Pam; Maunati, Yekti (23 April 2025). Decolonising Social Science Research in Southeast Asia: New Ways of Knowing. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-981–964624-1.

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