Rare sight: Padiman (left) escorting Bangkuai (second from left) during a tour of the Susui Sangod Borneo exhibition.
KOTA KINABALU: Those intrigued by headhunter culture will be interested to know there is a one-of-a-kind tourism attraction in the state dedicated to documenting and preserving Borneo’s headhunting past.
A 45-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu, Susui Sangod Borneo has a dimly-lit mini exhibition room filled with a display of sword artefacts from various ethnic groups as well as those used by Japanese soldiers.
Situated within the popular Crocodile Farm, Susui Sangod Borneo is run in collaboration with the Lotud Borneo Museum.
Padiman Jabau, the curator of the exhibition centre, said most of the items on exhibit were either personal keepsakes that had been handed down through generations or acquired from the Lotud Borneo Museum in its capacity as the artefact trustee.
“This Susui Sangod Borneo exhibition centre is not only one of a kind, but also a treasure trove of knowledge and history that should be shared with everyone, particularly the younger generation.
“This is to ensure that the history of headhunters and the customs of Borneo’s indigenous people are not lost to time,” he said yesterday.
Mainly focusing on the history of Sabah’s headhunting culture, Susui Sangod Borneo also displays antique brass objects.
Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said Tuaran was poised to become a bustling tourism hub with the opening of yet another tourism attraction in the district.
He said that the new exhibition centre would enable visitors to gain a better understanding of Sabah’s native heritage.
