KUCHING: An activist has questioned the academic basis of claims linking Iban warrior Rentap to a Malay historical narrative, warning that interpretations of Sarawak’s past must be grounded in proper understanding of Borneo’s indigenous cultures, the Dayak Daily reported.
Sarawak for Sarawakians founder Peter John Jaban said Rentap remains a powerful symbol of indigenous resistance and pride among the Iban people.
He said attempts to reinterpret or appropriate the warrior’s legacy through speculative narratives risk disrespecting the identity and heritage of the Iban community.
“We in Sarawak are deeply concerned by recent statements claiming that Iban hero Rentap is part of a Malay narrative,” Jaban said.
He said such claims are not only factually wrong but also show a disregard for the heritage and identity of the Iban people of Sarawak.
Jaban was responding to a claim by International Islamic University of Malaysia academician Professor Dr Solehah Yaacob that Rentap was a Malay and a descendant of the legendary Malaccan figure Hang Tuah.
He cautioned that presenting unverified historical claims as fact could mislead the public and undermine scholarly standards.