ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: A brief Notes

Aboriginal people in Peninsular Malaysia are commonly and widely known as Orang Asli (means “Original People”).  They are one of the indigenous groups living in Peninsular Malaysia.

There are three main tribal groups of these aboriginal peoples namely Negritos, Senois and Pro-Malays.  Each of these groups consists of their own sub-groups as follows:-

(i)                  Negrito group consists of:

-         Kensiu

-         Kintak

-         Lanoh

-         Jahai

-         Mandriq and

-         Batiq

(ii)                Senoi group, consists of:

-         Temiar

-         Semai

-         Semoq beri

-         Jahut

-         Mahmeri and

-         Chewang

(iii)               Proto-Malay group, consist of

-         Temuan (or also known as Beladas)

-         Semelai

-         Jakun

-         Orang Kanaq

-         Orang Kuala and

-         Orang Seletar

The aborigine has various languages (dialects) and cultures.

In 1970ies, there were about 50,000 aborigines in Peninsular Malaysia.  At present, about 110,000 aborigines stay in Peninsular Malaysia (that is less than 0.4 % of the total population in Malaysia) where generally, the Negritos inhabit the interior districts of upper Perak and Kelantan.  Proto-Malays usually live adjacent to the Malay traditional villages in the States of Johor, Melaka, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.  The Senois live along the hilly slope of the Titiwangsa Range (the main range in Peninsular Malaysia) in the interior part of the States of Pahang, Perak and Kelantan.

           

VISIT ABORIGINES “SETTLEMENTS”

  Some government agencies/organizations/tourists businesses are promoting “visit orang asli (aborigines) settlements” and communities, and experience orang asli life/life-style including sewang (orang asli group dance).  Places (or tourists destinations) like Pos Brookes, Kuala Betis, Pos Slim, Kampong Pulat and Kampong Wias (in Kelantan), Banding (in Perak) as case examples, are some of them.  Is orang asli part of tourism products and part of natural habitats?  We shall note that aboriginal peoples and areas (especially reserved for them) are protected under Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954.  Entering, experiencing or doing anything relating to their land, belongings, the people are with strict does’ and don’ts.  Or the tourists probably be prohibited from entering or remaining in the orang asli’s area or place if the conduct of the tourists is regarded as improper or undesirable to the orang asli (sections 14 and 19 Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954).

Q:        To promote or not to promote this “product” as one of tourists destinations?  If yes, how to harmonize between the usual tourists activities with prohibitions imposed to this type of activities in the said area?  How to avoid "conceal danger" to tourists entering the area without knowing the restrictions imposed