THE ' ORANG ASLI'

THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

At first, when i'm arrived at the village of indigenous people, honestly speaking, I AM AMAZED! You know, a new environment. a new 'people'? Should I say that guys (hm Im rude. so rude!). but nevermind, a new experience though. You guys should come too. Basically you will feel oversea. hahah jokes okay. Aint be so serious lah. *kangcepattua

Okay so here we go. A brief information about the village of indigenous people in Royal Belum, Perak. FYI, is not as bad as I've described guys. It's seriously okay. and I'm also salute the tok batin and villagers there. Since they make everything themselves. Even build a house (kau mampu?) hahah

Hm continue reading okay. I'm gonna go and get my popcorn jap. Hope it is not boring. New info guys. Positive positive!

There are two major groups in Belum; the Senoi and the Negrito. The Jahai is the main sub-ethnic group among the Negrito. There are 18 indigenous tribes living in Peninsular Malaysia forest and about 5600 of them comprising the Temiar, the Jahai and the Kinchu tribes lived around Temenggor and Belum Rainforest. 

They stay at rural area especially in Perak north east and Kelantan west. Most of they, choose to stay near riverfront or along the river (Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli, 2004). The locations of their village are Banun Sungai Tiang and Lake of Empangan Temenggor at Perak and Kelantan.

The structure of their house is look like banana bunch, it build from bamboo and make from “bertam” leaves and “tepus”. The house is very simple due to they will migrate when there is death and disaster and also to find a food supply at new area. Nowadays they have their own place and government will gives fund and helps to these ethnic. 

There are 3 villages of indigenous people at Hutan Royal Belum which is Kampung Aman Damai, Kampung Seri Wangi and Kampung Sungai Tiang. We take about 15 minutes from our boathouse to go there by 3 boat which by divided by group.Besides that, there is another ethic that stayed at this area which is Temiar.

DAILY ACTIVITIES

The economic activity by Jahai is collect forest product, catch fish and plug planting. The forest product will be collected once in a week. It is herbs plant such as tongkat ali, kacip fatimah, rafflesia, bamboo, eagle wood and rattan. 

Rafflesia is one of the wildlife plants that are rarely found in any forest. It has three types of rafflesia in this forest such as Kerrii, Cantleyi, and Azlanii. From the information by indigenous people, they inform that this kind of plant will give a benefit to the giving birth woman which is it will shrink the uterus rapidly when a woman drink the water from the boiling of the rafflesia petals.

 This is the knowledge that not many people realize but it is hard to find rafflesia because this plant is gazette under rainforest. Tongkat ali and kacip Fatimah also have their own benefit which is will include the treatment for diarrhea, boils, ulcer, tuberculosis, jaundice and dysentery. But Tongkat ali is widely known for its ability to enhance sexual activity in men.

Other than that, a man from Jahai ethnic will caught fish every day starting from 6am. They will use trawl to catch a fish. This activity was at around Pulau Banding. The species fish baung, toman and also kelah. Some of the fish that they caught, they will sell to the wholesaler and wholesaler will sell to retailer.

Normally this transaction will be held at grocery store nearest to Pulau Banding. The Kelah fish is become one of the places to visit during the tour which is it will be found at Sungai Rouk. It will take around 10-15 minutes from their village. A scientific name of Kelah fish is Malaysian Mahseer. At the Sungai Rouk, tourist can swim together with the kelah fish and they also can feed the fish if they bring along the bread of fish food.

Other than fishing, the indigenous people will hunt an animal by using “sumpit” whereby make by themselves using the long bamboo. An animal that they will hunt is squirrel and birds. Sometimes this ‘sumpit’ also will become their weapon when they are threatened. It is because they do not have any modern weapon such as gun or pistol with them.

FOOD OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

The main food is tapioca, but because of illegal activities such as cut down tree at Belum Forest, so many of wild animal such as elephant, wild boar and ape run to their village and will damage their plant. Now, indigenous people at this area changed their appetite to eat the rice and they can buy from Gerik market or brought by agent to their village.