Paitan people
Paitan people or simply Paitans is the collective name of an Austronesian ethnic groups indigenous to Sabah, Malaysia who speak the Paitanic languages. They primarily live in Pitas, Lahad Datu, Beluran, Telupid, Kinabatangan, Kota Marudu, Sandakan as well as Tongod districts and to some extent in both Keningau and Ranau districts. The ethnic comprises the Orang Sungei, Tombonuo and several eastern Sabah Dusuns such as the Begak Dusun, Lobu Dusun, and Subpan Dusun. Within the federation of Malaysia, the Paitans are considered as one of Sabah Bumiputeras.
Ethnic groups classified under the Paitan group
Orang Sungei
The Orang Sungai are one of the major Paitanic-speaking indigenous tribes of Sabah, located in the Beluran and Pitas districts in northeastern Sabah, where they originally practised animism, but a majority of Sungei now adhere to the Islam branch of Sunni Islam. The Sungei ethnic group has rich customs, coupled with the culture influenced by their intermarriage with other indigenous ethnic groups that has contributed to the merging and evolution of their cultural elements. Some of their traditional customs are still maintained as a legacy and guide for future generations, especially in the context of marriage customs. In the district of Pitas, the Sungei coexist with the Rungus as well as the Tombonuo people, where their cultural identity is shaped by processes of acculturation and assimilation, especially in rituals related to death through the influence of animistic beliefs.Tombonuo
The Tambanuo is another major Paitanic speaking indigenous tribe lived within the Labuk-Sugut areas of Beluran District, Kota Marudu District as well as Pitas District. The Tombonuo ethnic group has various traditional cultural artefacts, such as the orata, which are passed down from one generation to another. They once adhered strongly to animism with their traditional headhunting ritual known as muinsamung before most adhered to major religious beliefs such as Christianity and Islam, with some also to Baháʼí.Paitanic Dusuns
Keningau Dusun
Another Dusun sub-ethnic native to the Kinabatangan area, the Lobu Dusun belong to the Paitanic languages branch and also have their presence within the Lanas village in the Sook sub-district of Keningau with around 2,800 speakers in 2003. The language is different than most Dusuns in the Interior Division, and the Lobu were known as skilled hunters in the past. The Lobu Dusun of Lanas originated from the same sub-tribe as the Lobu Dusun of Tompios in Ranau, both originating from Inner Kinabatangan. They were separated due to migration as well as physical geographical barriers and political boundaries. Their traditional ethnic woven cloth is called binaduan as a long or short skirt for the Lobu ladies, and beyangkis is the traditional weaving craft with traditional beliefs that has its own mantra reading, motifs and taboos, such as for males it is used to provide protection or immunity to the individual before going to war, while for females it is often associated with physical appearance or beauty, especially on important events such as weddings. There is a specific traditional taboo that prohibits married individuals from weaving, but since many of the modern Lobu Dusun follow major religious beliefs such as Christianity and Islam, they are allowed to weave. Among the woven fabrics produced from Bayangkis weaving, including bakul, kapas, lilipo, raya, tikar and sirong.Lahad Datu Dusuns
The Subpan Dusun are one of the main Dusun sub-ethnic groups belonging to the Paitanic branch that mostly inhabit the Lahad Datu District. This sub-ethnic group is closely related to both the eastern Dusuns and Orang Sungei ethnic groups and are known for their cave burial traditions. The community is also well-known for its agrarian culture, with hill paddy cultivation, as well as the planting of cassava and bananas, and hunting and fishing activities within the Segama River area. The wedding traditions for this community include merisik, proposal, berian, mangadaa-adaa, as well as the manandoh and manukab batol ceremonies. The Subpan Dusuns lived along the Segama River such as in Balasu, Bakat Burut, Bukit Belacon, Litok Pulau, Litok Tabpoh, Masuli, Opak, Tawaiyari, Teliwas, and several more villages up to Danum Ulu Segama.Another sub-group is the Begak Dusun, which settles around the Tungku Village in Lahad Datu and has around 3,000 speakers. Some Begak also live within the districts of Kinabatangan and Sandakan.