THE IBAN TRIBE

Cultural diversity is the quality of diverse or different cultures that exist in one place. Culture is a way of life that is formed so that peoples can interact and adapt with community and environment. According to Mohd Taib Osman (1988), culture is an intellectual completeness that can satisfy the biological and social need and also can adapt with surrounding.

Malaysia is one of the countries that have races with their own culture and customs. Malaysia is also the only country that acknowledges the existence of the races. Although Islam is the national religion in Malaysia, however other religions never be ignored. Every festival is celebrated massively such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha by Muslim, Chinese New Year and Wesak Day by Chinese and Taipusam and Depavali by Indians. Even though they are from a different races and religion, Malaysian tends to celebrate other festival. They will be visiting their friends from other races during the festive season. This is showing the closeness between Malaysian.

There are many ethnics that exist in Malaysia. One of the ethnics is Iban. Iban is the largest community that located in Sarawak. Although the time is revolving, the Iban never forget the traditions that they inherited from their ancestor. One of the traditions is they will kept Tajau as their treasures that they get from barter system. Gawai festival is the major festivals in Iban ethnics. They 1qmaking the major decisions in their tribe. In my opinion, even the Iban peoples become more modern, they never forget their origin. Although nowadays they tend to stay in the house that are modern, but they wil back to “Rumah Panjang” back on every time they celebrate Gawai festival. They are also having a unique cultures and customs.