From top: Orang Sungei of Paitan sub-district, Beluran as well as Kota Marudu districts, Tombonuo Dusun of Pitas District, and Lobu Dusun of Keningau and Ranau districts
The Orang Sungai (also called Sungei)[3][4] are one of the major Paitanic-speaking indigenous tribes of Sabah, located in the Beluran and Pitas districts in northeastern Sabah, where they originally practised animism, but a majority of Sungei now adhere to the Islam branch of Sunni Islam.[5] The Sungei ethnic group has rich customs, coupled with the culture influenced by their intermarriage with other indigenous ethnic groups that has contributed to the merging and evolution of their cultural elements. Some of their traditional customs are still maintained as a legacy and guide for future generations, especially in the context of marriage customs.[5] In the district of Pitas, the Sungei coexist with the Rungus as well as the Tombonuo people, where their cultural identity is shaped by processes of acculturation and assimilation, especially in rituals related to death through the influence of animistic beliefs.[6]
The Tambanuo (also called Tombonuo) is another major Paitanic speaking indigenous tribe lived within the Labuk-Sugut areas of Beluran District, Kota Marudu District as well as Pitas District.[7][8] The Tombonuo ethnic group has various traditional cultural artefacts, such as the orata (treasures of hereditary inheritance), which are passed down from one generation to another.[8] They once adhered strongly to animism with their traditional headhunting ritual known as muinsamung before most adhered to major religious beliefs such as Christianity and Islam, with some also to Baháʼí.[9]
Another Dusun sub-ethnic native to the Kinabatangan area, the Lobu Dusun (Rumanau) belong to the Paitanic languages branch and also have their presence within the Lanas village in the Sook sub-district of Keningau with around 2,800 speakers in 2003.[10][11] The language is different than most Dusuns in the Interior Division, and the Lobu were known as skilled hunters in the past.[12] The Lobu Dusun of Lanas originated from the same sub-tribe as the Lobu Dusun of Tompios in Ranau, both originating from Inner Kinabatangan. They were separated due to migration as well as physical geographical barriers and political boundaries.[13] Their traditional ethnic woven cloth is called binaduan as a long or short skirt for the Lobu ladies,[14] and beyangkis is the traditional weaving craft with traditional beliefs that has its own mantra reading, motifs and taboos, such as for males it is used to provide protection or immunity to the individual before going to war, while for females it is often associated with physical appearance or beauty, especially on important events such as weddings.[15] There is a specific traditional taboo that prohibits married individuals from weaving, but since many of the modern Lobu Dusun follow major religious beliefs such as Christianity and Islam, they are allowed to weave. Among the woven fabrics produced from Bayangkis weaving, including bakul, kapas, lilipo, raya, tikar and sirong.[15]
The Subpan Dusun (also called Saga-i, Segama Dusun, and Sopan)[16] are one of the main Dusun sub-ethnic groups belonging to the Paitanic branch that mostly inhabit the Lahad Datu District. This sub-ethnic group is closely related to both the eastern Dusuns and Orang Sungei ethnic groups and are known for their cave burial traditions.[17] The community is also well-known for its agrarian culture, with hill paddy cultivation, as well as the planting of cassava and bananas, and hunting and fishing activities within the Segama River area.[16][18] The wedding traditions for this community include merisik (preliminary inquiry), proposal, berian (dowry), mangadaa-adaa, as well as the manandoh and manukab batol (traditional customs) ceremonies.[18] The Subpan Dusuns lived along the Segama River such as in Balasu, Bakat Burut, Bukit Belacon, Litok Pulau, Litok Tabpoh, Masuli, Opak, Tawaiyari, Teliwas, and several more villages up to Danum Ulu Segama.[19]
Another sub-group is the Begak Dusun (Bagahak),[20][21] which settles around the Tungku Village in Lahad Datu and has around 3,000 speakers.[22][23] Some Begak also live within the districts of Kinabatangan and Sandakan.[23]
Ranau Dusun
The Lobu Dusun also has a presence around the Tompios Village, with around 1,800 speakers in 2003.[10][11]
Telupid Dusun
The Dusun sub-ethnic in Telupid District belong to the Lobu Dusun with the community are known for their traditional boat culture and musical culture such as the mongindong and tangon instruments.[24][25]
See also
Dayak people, another unifying term for Bornean indigenous people used in neighbouring Sarawak and Kalimantan
Dusun people, another classification term for Bornean indigenous people used in northwestern Sabah for Dusunic-speaking peoples
References
↑ King 1984, pp.139–140. sfn error: no target: CITEREFKing1984 (help)
↑ "Etnik Sungai Buludupih"[Buludupih Sungei Ethnic](PDF). Sabah Cultural Board (in Malay). Archived(PDF) from the original on 15 September 2025.
↑ Akis, Sahira (10 September 2017). "Dusun Subpan terus berjuang kekal budaya tradisi"[Subpan Dusun continues to fight to preserve traditional culture]. Utusan Borneo (in Malay). Retrieved 1 October 2025– via PressReader.
United States Army Special Warfare Center (Fort Bragg N.C.) (1968). Borneo Case Study. United States Army Special Warfare School.
King, Julie K. (2015). "The Paitanic language family". Languages of Sabah: A Survey Report. C-78. Pacific Linguistics: 139–153. doi:10.15144/PL-C78.139. Archived from the original on 2 October 2025 – via Australian National University Open Research Repository. Text is licensed by Australian National University under CC BY-SA 4.0
Meter, Andy (2009). BUDAYA PERAHU DI KALANGAN MASYARAKAT DUSUN DI TELUPID, SABAH[BOAT CULTURE AMONG THE DUSUN COMMUNITY IN TELUPID, SABAH](PDF). Bachelor's Degree in History Program School of Social Sciences (Thesis) (in Malay). p.1–27. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 September 2025 – via Universiti Malaysia Sabah Institutional Repository.
Sintian, Minah (9 October 2020). "VARIASI DIALEK DUSUNIK"[VARIATIONS OF DUSUNIC DIALECTS](PDF). Faculty of Language and Communication, Sultan Idris Education University: 1–25. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 September 2025 – via Institute of Language and Literature, Malaysia.
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Malaysia 
Islam (Sunni) (60%)
Christianity (Catholic, Protestants) (30%), Animism (Traditional religion) (5%)
