PUTERI SANTUBONG AND PUTERI SEJINJANG (SARAWAK)

The legend of Puteri Santubong and Puteri Sejinjang is one of the most famous folk tales from Sarawak, Malaysia. It explains the origins of Mount Santubong, Mount Sejinjang, and the various islands off the coast of Kuching.

The Celestial Mission

The story begins in the celestial kingdom (Kayangan). Two beautiful princesses, Santubong and Sejinjang, were sent down to Earth by their father, the King of Heaven. Their mission was to bring peace to two feuding villages on the Sarawak coast: Pasir Kuning and Pasir Putih.

The King gave them one strict condition: they must never quarrel. If they fought, they would be severely punished.

Harmony and Talents

Under the guidance of the princesses, the villages thrived:

• Puteri Santubong was a master weaver. She taught the villagers of Pasir Putih how to weave beautiful fabrics that attracted traders from far and wide.
• Puteri Sejinjang was skilled at pounding rice. She helped the people of Pasir Kuning produce the finest, tastiest rice in the region.

For a long time, the villages lived in prosperity and harmony.

The Conflict: Jealousy and a Prince

The peace was shattered when both princesses fell in love with the same man, Prince Serapi (Putera Serapi).

What started as a small disagreement soon escalated into a fierce, violent battle of magic and jealousy. Forgetting their father’s warning, they attacked each other with their tools:

• Sejinjang swung her rice-pounder (alu) and struck Santubong in the cheek.
• Santubong retaliated by throwing her weaving loom beam (belida) at Sejinjang, hitting her with such force that her head shattered.

The Curse

Witnessing their broken promise, the King of Heaven became furious. He cast a curse on both of them, transforming them into stone:

• Puteri Santubong became Mount Santubong. If you look at the mountain today, its jagged peak is said to be the scar on her cheek from Sejinjang’s blow.
• Puteri Sejinjang became Mount Sejinjang. The pieces of her shattered head fell into the South China Sea and became the nearby islands, including Pulau Kera (Monkey Island), Pulau Satang, and Pulau Talang-Talang.
• Prince Serapi, the cause of their rift, was also turned into a mountain, now known as Mount Serapi (Gunung Serapi).

Cultural Significance

Today, this legend is immortalized in a popular folk song titled "Puteri Santubong," which is often performed at cultural events in Sarawak. The story serves as a moral lesson about the destructive nature of jealousy and the importance of keeping one's word.

Fun Fact: If you visit Damai Beach near Kuching, locals will point out that Mount Santubong looks like a woman lying on her back, watching over the sea.

Google Gemini AI

18 January 2026: 11.22 p.m