Mary Dayang Nyuak aka Ake' Iro

A beloved mother, grandmother Mary Dayang Nyuak, 1938 -2015

Mary Dayang Nyuak was born on February 2, 1938, at Telawan in Belaga District. She was a couple, Nyuak Kulleh and second wife Udei’s firstborn. Little is known about her mother Udei. She was the daughter of a Chinese man, a trader from Sibu nicknamed Kiam with a local Punan Tepeleang girl. In 1943, as the Japanese army was advancing towards Belaga, Kiam fled to Jelalong. It was the last time that Dayang saw her maternal grandfather from her mother side. Kiam died at Jelalong.

Into the mid 20th century, series of unfortunate events caused Dayang and her four siblings to become orphaned. In the early 1950s, they tragically lost both of their parents mere weeks apart. First was their mother, Udei suspected to have died of cholera, an epidemic common in the Rejang until late 19th century. The unexpected death of his wife devastated Nyuak who died less than a week later.

“He was so heartbroken, refused to eat nor drinking for days,” recalled Dayang. Nyuak and Udei were survived by their five children, the oldest Dayang Nyuak, followed by Ludo Nyuak, Selema Nyuak, Keluka Nyuak and Ngit Nyuak. After losing their parents, an arrangement was made for them to be adopted by Nyuak's family members. 

Fig.1. Dr Antonion Guerreiro photographing Plakei's klirieng at Lo'o Beletik (Beleti'), February 2018.

Dayang said she couldn't imagine living without her siblings, not least since they just underwent a very traumatic, tragic experiences. Regardless of her age, she was in her late teen, she determined to raise all her younger brothers and sisters alone.

Initially, they were planning to move to Punan Biau, to join Selema. Lanyieng, the chief of Punan Sama, their uncle, however, insisted they all should remain at Punan Sama, except for Ngit who was still nursing. Shortly later Dayang got married to Jemarang Uvang, a man hailed from Kakus. After the birth of their first son, Lirai Jemarang the couple briefly separated, Jemarang returned to Kakus. 

They remarried, during Dayang’s brother Keluka wedding and they remained married until her death on January 28, 2015. Together, Dayang and Jemarang had a total of seven children. One died unborn and in the early 1960s, they lost a daughter to high fever. Their surviving children are Lirai Jemarang, Andrew Balit Jemarang, Buring Jemarang, Idang Jemarang, Calvin Jemarang, and Thomas Jemarang. They had more than a dozen grandchildren, the eldest being Margeret Sanai, Matthew Andrew, Erni Lirai, and Gilbert Jeno.

The grave of Mary Dayang Nyuak located at Ba'o near Punan Sama, Belaga.

Who were Dayang's ancestors?

Dayang was descended from an aristocrat family. Her forebears, Plakei, Bejeang, Bato and Bapai were all laja or aristocrats - Bapai was a paramount chief of Punan in the middle of 19th century. Her ancestors' mausoleums could still be seen today near Punan Ba village and one actually being re-erected in the New York City, US.

Dayang great great great maternal grandfather Plakei’s klirieng is located at Beletik - see Fig 1. He was the chief of an offshoot of Lovuk Seriang and died in the early 18th century. The klirieng of Plakei's son Bato Plakei, meanwhile in the early 1980s was removed from Mi'a River, purportedly to Kuching by the order of a State's agency. 

Apparently, what transpired was the klirieng was sold to a middle by the name of "Lai Lai" on behalf of a Chinese businessman in Kuching, identified by informant only as 'NN'. In 1990s the Chinese businessman found a buyer for the klirieng, an art dealer based in Brussel, Belgium. An American gentleman, who are familiar with Southeast Asian arts named Robert learnt about the klirieng and bought it. 

Fig 3. Bato Plakei klirieng sold to a Chinese middle from Kapit, today erected in front of Watermill Center, New York City. Photo courtesy of Robert Wilson.

The klirieng then re-erected on the northern tip of Long Island, New York, US - see Fig 3. Bato's klirieng was misstated by Ida Nicolaisen as that of his son 'Mapai' (see Nicolaisen 2011). Mapai is actually Bapai, and his klirieng is still standing in situ at Mi'a River, near Punan Ba village to this today - see Fig 4.

Dayang great great maternal grandfather from her great grandmother was named Bejeang Kavuk Uko, the chief of Lovuk Kavuk Uka. This longhouse is fondly remembered by its nickname "Punan Tepeleang" by many. Anthropologist such as Jayl Langub (1972) spelt its name as "Punan Tepaling". Bejeang's klirieng is situated on the compound of Punan Ba village. A fire incident in May 2008 nearly destroyed the klirieng. It is still standing today, albeit badly charred from the fire incident - see Fig 2.

Dayang’s father Nyuak Kulleh, was the deputy chief of Lanyieng Jiui (Ake' Ubuong). He was Nyuak's uncle, with Bapai Bato and Bulan Bejeang were their common ancestors. Nyuak was the third of four siblings - his older sister Tu’a, brother Mukud and a younger sister Taga. Nyuak biological father, Kulleh Teva was half Kayan and a Punan mother, Nyalagei Bapai of aristocrat descent - see genealogy here (pdf).

Source: Mary Dayang Nyuak: Memory of Beloved Mother and Grandmother (pdf)

Fig. 4. Bapai Bato klirieng located near Lo'o Mi'a (Meah or Mia River on map).