Introduction - Sarawak Development Institute

Traditional Games Family Picnic
Sarawak Unity Foundation (YPS) and Sarawak Development Institute in
collaboration with Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) are organizing a Traditional
Games Family Picnic on 25 August 2013 at the Kuching Amphitheatre from
4:00p.m – 6:30p.m. This will be the first ever mass family picnic that incorporates
traditional cultural games for the public. Among the traditional games that will be
featured are ‘batak lampong’, ‘tating lawi’ and ‘sumpit’. Besides that, other
games such as rope skipping and stick walking would be demonstrated. The aim is
to raise awareness and involvement in our traditional cultural games.
The picnic is organised to provide an opportunity for members of the public to
interact and have fun whilst learning about local culture. It is also to foster and
enhance good relations among members of the community, which is a prerequisite
for social harmony and unity in the state.
The games are open for public participation in group or by family. Family members
and friends are encouraged to sign up early to participate in the games. Attractive
prizes would be up for grabs. To register for the picnic and games, please kindly
download the form from the YPS and SDI websites, complete it and email it back
to the organiser at SDI. You can also call us to register. Come and join us for the
picnic for fun and to learn more about the games. Demonstrations on how to play
the games would be conducted as well.
The Games
Tating Lawi (Sepak Bulu Ayam)
Originated from China, this is a simple game of kicking a feathered soft ball as
many times as possible to prevent it from falling to the ground. It can be played in
a group or on individual basis. It was a popular means of relaxation and exercise
for the ancient Chinese generals.

Sumpit
Sumpit is a blowpipe used by the indigenous ethnic groups in Sarawak in the past to
hunt for animals in the jungle. The sumpit and the darts are made from different
materials such as wood and bamboo as well as fiber glass. Sumpit has become one
of the traditional games for competitions in Sarawak and is enjoyed by people from
all walks of life.
Batak Lampong
Batak Lampong is a traditional sport of the Iban in Sarawak. Batak means pull in
the Iban language while Lampong refers to a light and medium length piece of wood.
It is a traditional sport for two persons to test their strength by pulling a piece of
wood while sitting on the floor/ground. The aim is to unbalance the opponent. This
traditional sport was always held at the “Pemetong” or door divider if it is held in a
house. Traditionally, the loser needs to drink tuak if this sport is held in the
longhouse. The purpose of this sport is to test the strength of players and to
strengthen the community relationship in a longhouse. This sport is usually held
during the Gawai Festival.