First woman takes helm of 130-year-old Iban longhouse in Sarawak

Bintulu, September 14 — Judy Stephen has become the first woman to hold the position of tuai rumah (longhouse chieftain) in a 130-year-old Iban longhouse in Sarawak. This significant milestone marks the beginning of her 10th tenure as leader of the community. Judy, 60, expressed her gratitude and readiness to do her best despite the challenges ahead. She was officially appointed on July 1, succeeding her uncle TR Jack Sigie, who held the position from 2009 to 2019.

The longhouse Judy leads is located approximately 50 kilometers from Bintulu and can be accessed by both road and river. Visitors traveling by car must park near the Sera River and cross it to reach the longhouse. The present structure stands on the same site where Judy's ancestors settled in the 1860s after moving from Ulu Skrang during the reign of Sir Charles Brooke, the Second Rajah of Sarawak.

According to Judy, her great-great-grandfather Bulan Genaya received an "Internal Migration Permit" from the Rajah, allowing their initial settlement at Nanga Sebauh River.

The original longhouse was primarily constructed from belian, or ironwood, for its roof, walls, and floor. The ruai, the communal passage where residents gather and community life unfolds, was also made from belian. Over time, the longhouse has undergone several reconstructions, with the most recent taking place in 1989. Judy, inheriting 18 doors or families, is excited about the future growth of the longhouse and the possibility of an expanded structure.