Assalamualaikum and good evening. Over the years, we have been listening to the notions of Orang Asli. Today, My friend and I decided to pay a visit to the Museum Orang Asli, located in the Gombak district. This Museum started in the year 1987 at the old wooden building. Later on, in 1995, the Orang Asli Affairs Department had built a new brick museum at a cost of RM3.3 million. With that large amount of money, it reflects the official efforts in preserving and documenting the history of Orang Asli for the future generation to prevent them from getting perished. In order for you to reach to the museum, you can simply search Muzium Orang Asli Gombak in Waze or Google Maps.  

Now, who are The Orang Asli anyway? Does it really matter to us? Orang Asli is considered to be part of the natives of this country. Based on the information obtained from the museum, there are three (3) major groups in the aborigin community; Negrito, Senoi and Proto Malay. Each group has six different tribes. Altogether, there are 18 Orang Asli tribes in Malaysia. 

  1. Negrito-  has been identified as the earliest to inhabit the remote areas of Peninsular Malaysia. They are said to have originated from Indo-China and came to the Malay peninsular via southern Thailand for about 8,000 years ago. Another theory stated that they came from South Africa, then travelled via Indo-China and eventually reaching Malay Peninsular. However, this theory is still being debated among archaeologist. 
  2. Senoi- This sub-ethnic group is the second wave of migrants from Indo-China to Malay Peninsular about 500 years ago.
  3. Proto Malay- They are said to reach Malay Peninsula around 1800 years from their native Sumatra and Riau-Lingga islands in Indonesia.   

Definition of Orang Asli. In referring to Aboriginal People Act (954), a person is qualified to be categorised as Orang Asli and enjoy related privileges when : 

  1. Any person whose male parent is or was, member of the aboriginal ethnic group, speaks an aboriginal language and habitually follows the aboriginal way of life, customs, beliefs.
  2. Any person of any race adopted when an infant by aborigines and practice the way of life of an aboriginal.
  3. The child of any union between an aboriginal female and a male of another race, provided that the child habitually speaks an aboriginal language, practices their way of life, customs, beliefs as 1 and 2.  
Orang Asli Tribes. I am not going to elaborate on the details of each tribe but just the name of the tribes. Here there are : 

  1. Mendriq       
  2. Lanoh
  3. Kensiu
  4. Bateq
  5. Kintaq
  6. Kanaq
  7. Seletar
  8. Temuan
  9. Semelai
  10. Orang Laut
  11. Jahai
  12. Jakun
  13. Jah Hut
  14. Temiar 
  15. Mah Meri
  16. Semai
  17. Che Wong
  18. Semoq Beri  

Bamboo gun (Senapang Buluh), a traditional game of Orang Asli people during their leisure time.

We usually wear caps, they also have it, known as Headpiece ( Tempok Kepala), made by various types of leaves and tree bark, worn by couples during weddings.
Taboos 
Almost all the tribes of Orang Asli in this county believe in and adhere to taboos that are related to various aspects in their life. Those who are ignorant to the taboo and break it have the tendency to be struck with bad luck, not only to the individual but might also affect the community altogether. One of the famous taboo is death. It is perceived as the scariest event by the Orang Asli, particularly during the mourning period. They are advised not to be too joyous, postpone their works.  

Beliefs 
Most of them still believe in the power of spirits whom are said to be their source of help when they need it. They have traditional medicine men / shaman / (bomoh / pawang) that act as a medium of communication between them and the invisible power. There are rituals on special days held to communicate with the spirits such as "Puja Pantai", and Genggulang.


Talisman (Tangkal), known to be a tool for protection from bad spirit.
On the left, is the toolbox for women. Next to the box is the cage, used to trap the bird in the jungle. 

This is long jack or (Tongkat Ali), famous herbs used by Orang Asli as traditional medicine. Even today, many commercialized energy drink have incorporated Long Jack essence into their products.


Pisang Sesikat House of Semai Tribe 




   
General traditional house of Orang Asli 




 
Irfan (former private military officer) was demonstrating to Izzat on how to reload the weapon. The soldier in the picture known as Police Field Force (Senoi Praaq) whose members are almost exclusively Orang Asli. It was formed to counter the influence of communist insurgents on the Orang Asli community deep in the jungles of Malaysia.





 
Example of the grave of Temian Tribe 



 
Izzat, Irfan and me. We hope that you can get a sense of what we've gone through this museum. Feel free to visit in the future to find out more information about the history of aboriginal in Malaysia. With that, till next time!
References:
1. Muzium Orang Asli, Gombak.
2. Srikandi, Al-Semantani Ibnu Rusydi (2017). Dunia Melayu. HR Publishing.














Tips & Bacaan

MUZIUM ORANG ASLI GOMBAK



Assalamualaikum and good evening. Over the years, we have been listening to the notions of Orang Asli. Today, My friend and I decided to pay a visit to the Museum Orang Asli, located in the Gombak district. This Museum started in the year 1987 at the old wooden building. Later on, in 1995, the Orang Asli Affairs Department had built a new brick museum at a cost of RM3.3 million. With that large amount of money, it reflects the official efforts in preserving and documenting the history of Orang Asli for the future generation to prevent them from getting perished. In order for you to reach to the museum, you can simply search Muzium Orang Asli Gombak in Waze or Google Maps.  

Now, who are The Orang Asli anyway? Does it really matter to us? Orang Asli is considered to be part of the natives of this country. Based on the information obtained from the museum, there are three (3) major groups in the aborigin community; Negrito, Senoi and Proto Malay. Each group has six different tribes. Altogether, there are 18 Orang Asli tribes in Malaysia. 

  1. Negrito-  has been identified as the earliest to inhabit the remote areas of Peninsular Malaysia. They are said to have originated from Indo-China and came to the Malay peninsular via southern Thailand for about 8,000 years ago. Another theory stated that they came from South Africa, then travelled via Indo-China and eventually reaching Malay Peninsular. However, this theory is still being debated among archaeologist. 
  2. Senoi- This sub-ethnic group is the second wave of migrants from Indo-China to Malay Peninsular about 500 years ago.
  3. Proto Malay- They are said to reach Malay Peninsula around 1800 years from their native Sumatra and Riau-Lingga islands in Indonesia.   

Definition of Orang Asli. In referring to Aboriginal People Act (954), a person is qualified to be categorised as Orang Asli and enjoy related privileges when : 

  1. Any person whose male parent is or was, member of the aboriginal ethnic group, speaks an aboriginal language and habitually follows the aboriginal way of life, customs, beliefs.
  2. Any person of any race adopted when an infant by aborigines and practice the way of life of an aboriginal.
  3. The child of any union between an aboriginal female and a male of another race, provided that the child habitually speaks an aboriginal language, practices their way of life, customs, beliefs as 1 and 2.  
Orang Asli Tribes. I am not going to elaborate on the details of each tribe but just the name of the tribes. Here there are : 

  1. Mendriq       
  2. Lanoh
  3. Kensiu
  4. Bateq
  5. Kintaq
  6. Kanaq
  7. Seletar
  8. Temuan
  9. Semelai
  10. Orang Laut
  11. Jahai
  12. Jakun
  13. Jah Hut
  14. Temiar 
  15. Mah Meri
  16. Semai
  17. Che Wong
  18. Semoq Beri  

Bamboo gun (Senapang Buluh), a traditional game of Orang Asli people during their leisure time.

We usually wear caps, they also have it, known as Headpiece ( Tempok Kepala), made by various types of leaves and tree bark, worn by couples during weddings.
Taboos 
Almost all the tribes of Orang Asli in this county believe in and adhere to taboos that are related to various aspects in their life. Those who are ignorant to the taboo and break it have the tendency to be struck with bad luck, not only to the individual but might also affect the community altogether. One of the famous taboo is death. It is perceived as the scariest event by the Orang Asli, particularly during the mourning period. They are advised not to be too joyous, postpone their works.  

Beliefs 
Most of them still believe in the power of spirits whom are said to be their source of help when they need it. They have traditional medicine men / shaman / (bomoh / pawang) that act as a medium of communication between them and the invisible power. There are rituals on special days held to communicate with the spirits such as "Puja Pantai", and Genggulang.


Talisman (Tangkal), known to be a tool for protection from bad spirit.
On the left, is the toolbox for women. Next to the box is the cage, used to trap the bird in the jungle. 

This is long jack or (Tongkat Ali), famous herbs used by Orang Asli as traditional medicine. Even today, many commercialized energy drink have incorporated Long Jack essence into their products.


Pisang Sesikat House of Semai Tribe 




   
General traditional house of Orang Asli 




 
Irfan (former private military officer) was demonstrating to Izzat on how to reload the weapon. The soldier in the picture known as Police Field Force (Senoi Praaq) whose members are almost exclusively Orang Asli. It was formed to counter the influence of communist insurgents on the Orang Asli community deep in the jungles of Malaysia.





 
Example of the grave of Temian Tribe 



 
Izzat, Irfan and me. We hope that you can get a sense of what we've gone through this museum. Feel free to visit in the future to find out more information about the history of aboriginal in Malaysia. With that, till next time!
References:
1. Muzium Orang Asli, Gombak.
2. Srikandi, Al-Semantani Ibnu Rusydi (2017). Dunia Melayu. HR Publishing.














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