Prof James Chin presenting the book to Tan Sri Amin at the Parliament.

The first book detailing the account of the language and culture of the Iranun people in Sabah was released recently.

The Iranun Of Sabah: Language And Culture Of An Endangered Minority In Malaysia, was edited by Monash University Sunway campus’ Head of the School of Arts & Social Sciences Professor James Chin and International Education Consultant Dr Karla Smith of SIL International.

The book also includes a chapter by Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia who explored the urgent need to preserve and protect minority language and culture.

In a simple ceremony at the Parliament House recently, Professor Chin presented the finished work to Tan Sri Amin.

Divided into 15 chapters, it is mostly penned by academics and Iranun leaders and deals with issues such as traditional Iranun practices towards babies and young children, death rituals, Iranun musical instruments and attempts at creating an Iranun dictionary.

The 228-page book, published by Kuala Lumpur-based Pelanduk Publications, also sees contributors Jim Smith, Rebekah Conklin, Sean Conklin, Howard McMaunghan, Ismail Sidik, Kibin Samad, Carl Cripps and Jacqueline Pugh-Kitingan.