Unsur Kepercayaan dan Kearifan Tempatan dalam Memorat Perubatan Tradisional Etnik Murut Tahol di Sabah Elements of Local Beliefs and Wisdom in the Traditional Healing Memorates of the Tahol Murut of Sabah

Abstract

 A memorate is a type of legend passed on orally from one generation to another and perceived as truth or real by those who uphold such beliefs. Many Western and local researchers have found legends to be records of the knowledge of people in the past. In this study, 26 Tahol Murut informants were interviewed during field work conducted in several villages located in the Kemabong subdistrict of Sabah. These interviews generated a total of 25 memorates which were recorded, transcribed and documented. This research utilised the in-depth interview and focus group interview methods. The focus of this paper is the relationship between memorates and the physical and spiritual healings of the Tahol Murut ethnic community. The elements of local beliefs and wisdom found in the memorates were analysed based on interpretation and comparison methods. The analysis found that the Murut Tahol people believed in dreams, supernatural beings and certain animals that were perceived as able to assist in the healing of spiritual afflictions (such as spiritual possession and disturbances) and physical illness (such as injury, fever and stomach ache). Such beliefs are universal among the various ethnic groups in Sabah and Sarawak, the Malays and other races as well. In terms of local wisdom, this study found the Tahol Murut skilful at identifying the types and characteristics of plants that had medicinal value. They were also adept in the preparation of various types of traditional medicine and the use of ‘sasampui’ (a type of spell) in physical and spiritual healing. In conclusion, this study found memorates had significantly influenced the traditional healing practice of the Tahol Murut ethnic community throughout time and invariably reflect the local wisdom and belief in the efficacy of their inherited healing methods.

Memorat ialah sejenis legenda yang diwarisi secara lisan dan dipercayai benar dalam kalangan masyarakat pendukungnya. Ramai pengkaji Barat mahupun tempatan mendapati kisah legenda merakamkan pengetahuan orang terdahulu. Dalam kajian ini, seramai 26 orang informan daripada suku etnik Murut Tahol telah ditemu bual dalam kerja lapangan yang dikendalikan di beberapa buah kampung di daerah kecil Kemabong, Sabah. Siri temu bual ini telah menghasilkan sebanyak 25 buah memorat yang seterusnya dirakamkan, ditranskripsikan dan didokumentasikan. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah temu bual secara individu dan temu bual secara kumpulan berfokus. Fokus perbincangan makalah ini ialah perkaitan antara kisah memorat dengan perubatan rohani dan fizikal dalam kalangan masyarakat etnik Murut Tahol. Unsur kepercayaan dan kearifan tempatan yang dikenal pasti dalam memorat etnik Murut Tahol turut dianalisis berdasarkan kaedah interpretasi dan perbandingan. Analisis mendapati bahawa etnik Murut Tahol percaya akan mimpi, pelbagai jenis semangat ghaib serta haiwan tertentu yang dianggap dapat membantu mereka mengubati penyakit rohani (seperti kerasukan dan gangguan semangat) dan penyakit fizikal (seperti luka, demam dan sakit perut). Unsur-unsur sedemikian ialah unsur sepunya yang dimiliki etnik peribumi Sabah dan Sarawak, orang Melayu dan bangsa lain di dunia ini. Daripada segi kearifan tempatan pula, etnik Murut Tahol didapati arif dalam mengenal pasti jenis dan ciri-ciri tumbuh-tumbuhan yang sesuai untuk dijadikan ubat. Selain itu, mereka juga mahir dalam menyediakan ubat-ubatan tradisional dan menggunakan sasampui (jampi) dalam mengubati pelbagai jenis penyakit fizikal dan rohani. Kesimpulannya, memorat didapati telah mempengaruhi amalan perubatan tradisional etnik Murut Tahol secara turun-temurun dan secara tidak langsung menonjolkan kearifan tempatan dan kepercayaan terhadap keberkesanan kaedah perubatan yang diwarisi oleh mereka.