Rumah Bugis - A Memory of The Bugis In Malaya

My trip with Sahabat Media CC1M ends the Pineapple Trail with a brief visit to Muzium Nanas but our journey is far from over. Our next stop was at the Rumah Bugis, the only remaining Bugis architecture as memories of their heritage. The Bugis are among the first to migrate to Tanah Melayu from the island of Sulawesi (Celebes) probably in mid to late 2nd millenium BC and settled down in Johor.

The Bugis has a reputation for being fierce, war-like and industrious and became the power behind the Johor throne beginning in 1722. Read more about the Bugis HERE.

We made a stop at the traditional Rumah Bugis or Seri Salenwangeng at Kampung Sungai Kuali, along the way from Pontian to Tanjung Piai,  to see the Bugis heritage house with some modern addition to it, that costs RM 2.3 million and estimated to weigh more than 100 tons. However the historical heirarchy of the Bugis can be seen at the house with photos of Bugis well-known figures and decorated with antique teak furnitures dating back to 1800s.

Rumah Bugis that we visited belong to  Induk Chicuk Daeng Hadadek, 70, and  named it as the Seri Salewangeng. Entering Seri Salawengeng resembles entering the olden days palace. According to Induk Chicuk's son Encik Abd. Hadi, rumah Seri Salewangeng is built using the belian wood imported from Jambi and Kalimantan in Indonesia. The wood can withstand for hundreds of years and not able to be infested by termites. 

The house was built 80% to resemble their first family house who migrated to Pontian more than 75 years ago. Even though it is not open to the public like museums, the Seri Salewangeng do accept visitors who want to learn about the Bugis tradition. Local and foreign historical researchers often visit the house to document the history of Bugis migration to the then Tanah Melayu . 

Rumah Bugis can be visited at this address