Assalamualaikum.
Entry
today we want to share of our Cross-Culture class visit to the Orang Asli
museum located in Jalan Pahang Lama Gombak. This visit was on 20 February 2016
at 10.00 am. Truthfully said that this is our first time we are here even this
museum near from IIUM and several of us had been here before. Our journey from
IIUM to the museum takes 15 minutes and we went there by car.
Excited right? HAHA..
This
is free entrance museum and opening hours just on Saturday until Thursday from
9.00 am till 5.00 pm. Find free time and go there together with your friends
especially those who really like history…
Because
this is our Cross Culture class, we had been given a task to discover whole
history of Orang Asli all over Malaysia. First, i will brief a little
background about this museum.
How Orang Asli Museum got this name
and what for this museum was built??
Orang
Asli Museum History started in year 1987 at an old wooden building which was
the official residence of Former Director of Orang Asli Affairs Department
(JHEOA). Later in year 1995 (end of 6th Malaysia Plan) the JHEOA
official built a new brick museum at a cost of RM 3.5 million. It was completed
and hand-over to the JHEOA on 19 June 1998. The museum was officiated by the 11th
Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Alhaj on 2 March 2000 an was
known as the Orang Asli Museum.
Now,
this museum is developing and handling under Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli
(JAKOA). This to make sure that this historical place is keeps safe and does
not be abandoned. Moreover, this center also controls the development of the
Orang Asli in Malaysia. They will keep in track and find idea on how the
transformation of this place to be a better place. However, the welfare for the
Orang Asli community is not forgotten.
Timeline
of the transformation plan for the Orang Asli
The
objective of this museum are to of becoming a reference point for historical
events and artifacts to the aborigines or the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia
the museum also helps to facilitate research into the history and background of
the aborigine community. The museum consists of a permanent exhibition gallery,
a mini theater hall equipped with state-of-the-art audio visual system, a
library and a souvenir shop. Artifacts on exhibition at the museum include
hunting equipment, traditional musical instruments as well as personal
ornaments and garments. I will briefly explain to you later about all this
tools.
Wait!
Who are The Orang Asli?
The
Orang Asli is considered to be part of the natives of this country. In December
2010, their population is approximately 171,193 and they are divided into three
main tribes which are Negrito, Senoi and The Proto-Malays (Aboriginal Malays).
Negrito
is a sub- ethnic group has been identified as the earliest to inhabit the
remote are of Peninsular Malaysia. They are said to have originated from Indo-
China and come to Malay Peninsular through southern Thailand about 8, 000 years
ago. Another theory claims that they are migrants from South Africa who
travelled through Indo-China to proceed to the Malay Peninsula. However this
theory is still being debated by archeologist.
Senoi
is the second wave of migrants from Indo-China to Malays Peninsular through
southern Thailand around 500 years ago.
Proto-Malays
came to Malay Peninsular around 1800 from native Sumatra and Riau- Lingga Island
in Indonesia. They settled in coastal area especially in the south of the
Peninsula. They are believed to have fled to the Peninsula from politic
tensions and war in their native land.
Each
tribe divided into 6 smaller tribes and they speak different dialect, apart
from the local Malay dialect.
Negrito
|
Senoi
|
Proto-
Malays
|
Kensui
|
Temiar
|
Temuan
|
Kintaq
|
Semai
|
Semelai
|
Lanoh
|
Semoq Beri
|
Jakun
|
Jahai
|
Che Wong
|
Orang Kanaq
|
Mendriq
|
Jah Hut
|
Orang Kuala
|
Bateq
|
Mah Meri
|
Orang Seletar
|
Once
we enter this place, all of us interested in one image which is….
THIS!
The
map images on the distribution Orang Asli across Malaysia. This interesting
picture of variety ethnics Orang Asli and I bet this only major ethnic in
Malaysia and there are many others ethnic in depth. Look up to this picture, for
sure my classmate members are looking for what kind of Orang Asli or ethnic of
Orang Asli in their state and same goes us.
Tadaaa
J Fatin
and I point at tribes of Orang Asli in our own state.
I am Kelantanese and
Fatin is Penangite
I
am Kelantanese and the ethnic of Orang Asli there called as Bateq. According to
the information provided here, Bateq can be further divided into several
sub-tribes, namely the Bateq De in Hulu Kelantan, Bate Iga in Tahan River and
Kechau River in Pahang. Bateq Nang in Cheka river in Jerantut, Pahang as well
as Bateq the in Pos Lebir, Aring river
in Kelantan and Berua river in Hulu Besut, Terengganu. Each sub-tribe has its
own dialect which forms its identity. The Bateq are usually frizzy haired dark
with a broad face, flat nose and short chin. However for other tribes, they
have their own character and personalities.
So,
what the other things that exhibit in
Orang Asli Museum?
As
what I said before, there are many things display in the museum like exhibition
gallery which exhibit on musical instrument, jewelries, clothing, wood carving
and crafts, hunting tools, farming tools, the wedding ceremony of the orang
asli, beliefs, Senoi Praaq corner and so on.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
Musical
instrument also has been used for Orang Asli in and all this instruments is
hand made by them from the natural sources. Music forms part of their lives it
used as a form of entertainment. Basically, their music is produces using
instruments that need to be drummed, blown, violin-like and hit like the
‘gong’, ‘centong’, ‘bamboo guitar’, ‘kreb’, ‘pensol’, and ‘centong-centong’.
JEWELLRIES
Besides
that, they also wear jewelries and this are used to attract the male and
female. Some of these jewelries is made of tree roots, beads and flowers which
are then designed to form bracelets, necklace, comb and others.
(This
is comb that use by female Among The Orang Asli)
CLOTHING
In
clothing, they used to cover the private parts of both the male and the female.
Originally, their clothes were made of leaves and the outer layer of wood.
Technology and development have existed for a long time in the Orang Asli and
this is evident from the process of making clothes from wood with its very high
artistic value.
So
here, don’t u think that they are not wearing anything.. hehe
WOOD CARVINGAND CRAFTS
As we know, they are really relying
on the nature and all task they are using woods, bamboo, roots and many things.
So it is undeniable that they are really creative in making wood carving and
crafts. There are meaning besides these crafts, such as mostly for belief
especially in weaving of mengkuang and pandan leaves, bamboo and cane. In wood
craving, all creation depends on imagination and dream that depict good or evil
forces which are related to their beliefs and lifestyle.
Some of the craft Orang Asli
made
HUNTING
Then,
for hunting tools, The Orang Asli uses many different types of hunting weapons
that are basically made of material available around them. The weapon includes
blow-pipe, spears and traps. Fishing equipment includes ‘bubu’, ‘lukah’,
‘tuar’, and other. At present, these tools are still being used especially by
the Orang Asli living in remote areas.
The use of blow-pipe and traps
as weapons..
WEDDING CEREMONY
This
picture is about wedding ceremony of Orang Asli. They have unique wedding
rituals but at the same time. There are certain elements of their wedding
rituals that’s are still being practiced by the Mah Meri in Kampung Tanjung
Sepat, Selangor are ritual to get rid of bad luck, sharpening the teeth,
setting up the mosquito net, coloring the fingernails, he dancing ceremony and
the ritual where they bathe the bride and groom. For your information, Orang
Asli practice early marriage such as for male in 17 years old until 18 years
old is suitable age for them to get married. Meanwhile for female, when they
are 13 until 14 years old is a good age and preferred younger than male to get
married. Wow.. this is interesting..
BELIEFS AND HEALING
In
terms of beliefs, the Orang Asli has their own unique customs and traditions,
which are closely linked to animistic influences. Traditional medicine-men or
know as shaman act as a medium to communicate with the invisible power. This
communication process carries out during rituals on special days such as ‘Puja
Pantai’ for the Mah Meri, ‘Genggulang’ for the Semai. ‘Sewang’ for the Semai
and Temiar then ‘Berjerom’ for the Jakun.
In
healing belief of Orang Asli, their close relationship with cosmological
factors, such as the sun, moon, stars and other elements means that they
require a physical channel/medium, which they create in various forms during
any healing ritual. This ‘channel’ acts as the vessel for transferring the
patient’s illness. The Mah Meri for example, use ANCA, Balai (spirit half) or
Sampan (small boat) as their channel. The Jah Hut meanwhile, uses the Sepili
figurine in their healing ceremony known as Benisoy.
They
continue to hold onto the traditions of healing as inherited from their
ancestors. There are certain rituals that make up these traditions, which start
from the point of birth right up to death. These rituals are carried out to
obtain wellbeing and for protection against disasters or illness. For the Semai
and Temiar tribes, the Sewang events is closely related with healing practices
for treating condition such as memory loss, illness as a result of
someone’s ill wish, accidental poisoning
and possession by evil spirit. Illness are believed to originated from a spirit
which has been disturbed and therefore need to be summoned and worshipped in
order to treat it. The Mah Meri meanwhile holds a special Hari Moyang (Ancestor
Day) celebration once a year for the same purpose.
What is Senoi Praaq?
Senoi praaq is a term that means The Fighting
People. it refer to the battalion of the Police Field Force (PPH) whose members
are almost exclusively Orang Asli and was originally formed in 1957 to counter
the influence of the communist insurgents on the Orang Asli community deep in
the jungles of Malaysia. In 1968 the Senoi Praaq was absorbed into PPH. The
unit has two battalions, the Battalion 20 based in Bidor Camp, Perak. Today
both battalion consist of 2, 000 personnel and were known as the General
Operations Force (PGA).
Before
this, I never thought that Orang Asli also have own Battalions at that time and
this is amazing!
Besides
that, at that time they had used the telephone during missions in jungle and
this is advanced u know and the phone is very unique and cute. (Actually
this is the favorite site for most of us. hey
you! a handsome Senoi Praaq there..)
Hello....
Jewelries
Graduation dress for Orang Asli
Traditional music and dances
Funeral process..
Finally,,
For
the conclusion, there are many things we learned about history of The Orang
Asli from this visit. For instance, their culture, beliefs, clothes, ceremonies,
music instruments, the battalion that I like the most and so on. As we can see
in depth on history of Orang Asli, they are primitive people who live in jungle
and they are fully dependent on the natural sources surrounding, but they are
living well and know how to survive, to defend themselves from any risk and to
giving birth have children among the community Orang Asli. This is human, we
have been given aql and intellectual differ from animals. Intellect is one
weapon or power precious gift of God to every human being. Among all God's
creatures, humans are the most perfect, most beautiful, the best, and even
respectable human beings are not the biggest or the highest. This is explained
by Allah in his words to the effect:
“We
have certainly created man in the best of stature”
(Surah At-Tin, verses 4)
In
counseling view, we need to know all this important information about Orang
Asli in because they are part of our community, Malaysian. Besides that, when
we know their culture, we are able to cope nicely when having counseling
session with them if we aware of their cultural background, religions and
beliefs. do not stereotype and be judgmental to them, respect each other, and
make them comfortable along the counseling process. We have cultural diversity
in our country, so be fair to all different culture in our country and avoid
being racist.
That’s
all for our entry today, sorry for late post about this visit..
Thank
you reading this entry and have fun! J
~AdilahMardiah
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