Sunduk.

As always without fail, we made our first visit after the Raya prayers not to the livings but to the departed to pay our respects and offered our prayers.


Visiting the graves loved ones and offering them prayers on the first day of Hari Raya at the graveyards along Jalan Bubul, Semporna

There is a certain uniqueness about the tombstones found here in the East Coast of Sabah. They are similar to the one found in the Southern Philipines where the population are predominantly of the Bajaus ethnics. These tombstones are different from the 'normal' tombstones that are found at other Muslim cemeteries.

I now have learned how to differentiate the grave of that of a male or female by the unique and elaborate design of the tombstones. The Bajaus of the East Coast of Sabah called these tombstones Sunduk or what is commonly known as Batu Nisan in Malay.

The tombstone for a male deceased will look something like the one below.

While the tombstone and design for a female will look similar to the one below.