Born in Sabah but after years of being away from the Land Below the Wind, many Sabahans in Perak have accustomed themselves to the culture and customs of the people in the state.
One of them is Kota Kinabalu-born Diana Delisha Abdullah, 30, a housewife who moved to Perak nine years ago after marrying her Ipoh-bred Perlis-born husband.
The woman now loves wearing the “Puteri Perak” clothing and, like most Perakians, uses the “Labu Sayong” to store her drinking water.
“We as a family practice storing water in Labu Sayong because it keeps the water cold, while my favourite food is Putu Perak, which we always have for tea every week,” she told Bernama.
According to Diana Delisha, she even challenged herself and participated in the Srikandi Puteri Perak competition organised by the Perak Department of Culture and Arts.
“Honestly, I was shocked when crowned the third-place winner. I did a traditional dance performance, using the Labu Sayong as a prop when I danced to the song ”Selamat Datang ke Negeri Perak”.
“It was an experience that gave me the opportunity to learn more about the customs, culture and history of Perak,” he said.
Diana Delisha, who has three children, said she finds living in Perak not much different than living in her hometown in Sabah.
“The place is harmonious and the people are friendly, there is respect for one another regardless of religion and race. I have many friends here,” she said.
As a Sabahan, Diana Delisha, who is a Committee Member of the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA), said she would use the opportunity during her participation in cultural-related competitions to showcase the customs and culture of the Sabah people.
“I’ll use the opportunity to showcase the ethnic clothing of the Sabah people, as well as traditional Sabah food such as hinava, nasi lemak Sabah and ambuyat,” she said, adding that she would also cook the food when she has guests at her house,
On the challenges of staying in the peninsula, she said, she can’t afford to go back to her hometown often as the flight tickets are too costly.
Meanwhile, Amanda Fenniellie Lawis, 37, from Ranau, said she has been living in Perak for 11 years because of her job.
She said she always wears traditional clothes to attend functions, as well as brings along Sabah’s traditional food and Borneo handicrafts to share with others.
“At the beginning, I had mixed feelings about having to be away from my family…but as time passes by, I am able to adapt well to life in Perak.
“Every time during the Aidilfitri festival, I do not miss buying rendang and Rendang Tok to serve to friends even though I am not Muslim,” she said, adding that among her favourite food in Perak are Nasi Ganja, Nasi Lemuni and Rendang Tok.
Now married to an Ipoh man, Amanda said she hoped that there would be a direct flight between Perak and Sabah as it would be more convenient for the Sabah people to go back to their hometime.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
