Kiput people

The Kiput people, also known as Lakiput or Lepo Pu’un (meaning "early tribe") are an indigenous ethnic group native to northern Borneo, primarily residing in Sarawak, Malaysia. Historically, the Kiput have been concentrated along the Baram River, where they are among the earliest settled communities in the region. Over time, different Kiput subgroups have established distinct settlements, with some migrating to Brunei, where they are assimilated into the Puak Belait community. As of the 2000 census, the Kiput population was estimated to be around 2,000 people.

Traditionally reliant on subsistence farming, fishing and trade, the Kiput have undergone significant cultural and economic transformations, particularly following their conversion to Islam and Christianity in the 20th century. Despite these changes, the Kiput language remains a crucial element of their ethnic identity, though dialectal variations exist among different communities. Linguistically, the Kiput language is closely related to Belait, Miriek, Narum and Bakong.

In recent years, initiatives to preserve Kiput heritage have included the formal adoption of "Kiput" as the official ethnonym in 2024 and the recognition of the Kiput people as a Bumiputera group in Sarawak, contributing to greater acknowledgment of their cultural identity within Malaysia. These efforts continue with events such as the upcoming Adiit Mucu’ut Kiput Festival in 2025, which aims to celebrate and promote Kiput traditions.