Who are the Paitanic?

 The Paitanic people groups in Sabah includethe Tambanua (Tombonuo), Linkabau, AbaiSungai, Upper Kinabatangan, Kalabuan,Dusun Segama, and Sinabu Dusun. Linguistically,the Tambanua and Linkabau are closely related andthe Upper Kinabatangan, Kalabuan, Dusun Segama,Sinabu, Lanas Lobu, and Tampias Lobu are similar.The Abai Sungai dialect is not closely related.

According to the 2000 Malaysian census, the totalpopulation for these peoples was 52,508. The Tambanuais by far the largest at 24,266 with all the others beingunder 10,000. The Tambanua and Linkabau arefound in the Beluran (Labuk-Sugut), Pitas, and KotaMarudu districts in northern Sabah. The Abai Sungaiare found along the lower Kinabatangan river in theeastern part of the Kinabatangan district. The TampiasLobu are found in three villages in Ranau around thetown of Tampias. The Upper Kinabatangan, DusunSegama, and Sinabu are primarily along the upperreaches of the Kinabatangan River. The Lanas Lobu(including Rumanau) are found in the Keningau andKinabatangan districts.

What are their lives like?

Most of these peoples are primarilyagriculturists with rice being the mostimportant crop. The family and the villageare the basic structures around which these peoplescenter their lives. Families provide for most of theirindividual needs by rice farming or fishing andequally sharing the work load. The family has the useof village land based on its residence in the village,but it does not actually own the land.

One of the distinguishing features of many villagesis their role as a ceremonial unit. Ceremonies areperformed for the health and welfare of an individual,a family, and the village as a whole. During someceremonies, the village pathways are sealed off andoutsiders kept away to ensure trespassing does notdisturb those spirits.

What do they believe?

Traditionally these peoples were animists,although both Christianity and Islam havetaken root. Animistic practices have becomeintertwined with Muslim customs in some villages.Allah is thought to be incomprehensible andunreachable, while demons are in contact with mandaily. Shamans use chicken sacrifices in an attempt toplacate these spirits when their displeasure becomesapparent in the form of sickness.

Christian outreach has made progress throughmeans of community development and education.Muslim outreach carries out similar activities, suchas working in wet rice production and cash cropexpansion, in order to expand the influence of theirreligion. Animistic practices still exert a powerfulinfluence even over those professing to be Christianor Muslim. Most of the important village ceremoniesare attended by all, regardless of religious affiliation.Christian substitutes for harvest, fertility and villagerenewal ceremonies have not been widely acceptedand most villagers still are active in traditional ritualsassociated with animism.

What are their needs?

Community development work is seen as aviable way to bless the community and tohelp these groups adapt to their changingworld. Pray that believers will provide health care,nutrition, literacy, and agriculture programs, whileat the same time be able to share the truth of the goodnews. Portions of the Word are available in only someof these languages.