Balajai the Giant of Kawang

Written by H. Joplin Mosiun 

April 6, 2023

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There is a possibility that the Malapi Dusuns at Kawang are descendants of the Sugud people, as the Tobilung at Sugud, led by Marahang, had ventured into Kinarut and Kawang to establish settlements. Based on an account shared by a distant relative in 2005, a Bangkaakon named Balajai from Sugud was buried in Kawang, indicating a historical connection between the two areas.

The practice of naming places, territories, villages and settlements after the names of tribes or clans, as well as community leaders, was once common among indigenous communities in Sabah. It is important not to overlook the significance of place names, as they can provide valuable insights into the identities of the original inhabitants and their historical context.

The fact that the territory of the Bangkaakon extended to Kinarut and Kawang since its establishment in Sugud suggests the migration of Sugud people to these areas as it is the case of the Tobilung. However, without further evidence, it is difficult to confirm the relationship between the Malapi Dusuns at Kawang and the Sugud people. It is important to consider that communities and tribal groups can evolve, separate, or merge over time, and there may be multiple factors that contribute to the origins and development of a particular group or settlement. 

Malapi is a subdivision within Sugud that falls under the larger Tandarupis area. It was the site of many of the early settlers' longhouses.¹ The narrative of Balajai was specifically collected from this particular part of Sugud. 

While on a hunting trip in the jungles of Kawang, a young Jitain and his father came across a long mound. It was the burial site of Balajai, a Bangkaakon from Sugud who was said to have stood at an impressive height of 12 feet. Balajai was a giant who roamed the country in pursuit of extraordinary and marvelous things.² 

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Notes
1 Many years ago, my grandmother told me that my grandfather's (Mosiun) ancestors came from the settlements in the Ulu Maang area within the Sugud. This was the Malapi area.^↩
2 Interview with Jitain Hoinsung at Kg. Tondupis, Sugud in 2005.^↩