KOTA KINABALU: Although they make up less than 1% of Sabah’s population, the Dusun Tinagas community is determined not to be forgotten.
Faced with the risk of cultural identity loss within a generation, the community has come together to preserve the traditions and customs passed down from their ancestors.
Nestled in Kampung Malinsau in the highlands of Ranau, the Dusun Tinagas believe it is still not too late to protect their language, customs and way of life, a crucial move to prevent their cultural heritage from fading, or worse, being erased entirely.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of Piuludan Tinagas 2025, a cultural gathering held recently in Kampung Malinsau, organising chairman Maslah Rompado made an emotional call to action.
“There is a quote that resonates with me: ‘If you want to erase a people, erase their language and culture.’
“I fear that with the rapid pace of globalisation and the digital era, if our language and culture are not preserved, it is not impossible that in 10 or 20 years, the Tinagas identity may disappear,” she told The Star.
The Dusun Tinagas are an indigenous subgroup of the larger Kadazandusun and Murut community, primarily found in the tri-border region of Ranau, Kota Marudu and Beluran.
Their population, estimated at just 20,000 to 30,000 out of Sabah’s 3.74 million, makes the need for cultural preservation even more urgent.
Rompado said Kampung Malinsau was chosen as the venue for this year’s event as it is considered the cultural heartland of the Dusun Tinagas.
“We have traced our community in other districts, and when in Beluran, all the Tinagas there told us their ancestors came from Malinsau.
“This village truly sits at the centre. On foot, we are close to Kota Marudu; by river, we reach Beluran; and by road, we are nearest to Ranau,” she added.
She said that Piuludan Tinagas aimed to revive the traditional dress, music, dance, oral history and language – cultural elements that she describes are fading fast among younger generations.
Rompado, who also leads the Indigenous Women’s Association of Malaysia (PWOAM), said many young Tinagas today can no longer recognise traditional gong rhythms or recite ancient chants like “madlibag”.
Madlibag is a traditional poetic chant or sung verse, similar to a syair or lyrical ballad, performed as storytelling that blends song and spoken word to convey emotion, wisdom and cultural memory, often passed down orally through generations.
“These are not just art forms. They are vessels of our history and worldview,” she said.
One of the key highlights during Piuludan Tinagas was the official launch of the Dusun Tinagas traditional motif, which has been submitted to the Sabah State Archives and Sabah Cultural Board for preservation, an achievement Rompado described as a cultural milestone.
The event also featured competitions such as Ratu Lapoi (cultural queen), Suminding (traditional song), Manangon (storytelling) and Kombo (music and dance), all designed to reignite pride and interest in the Tinagas heritage.
Piuludan Tinagas 2025 drew participants and guests from across Sabah and received strong support from cultural agencies, elected leaders and donors, including Yayasan Sabah, Jetama and the Indigenous Peoples of Asia Solidarity Fund.
