The Orang Asli ("First Peoples") are the indigenous
people of West-Malaysia. They form a population of about
150,000 people divided over about 18 groups (see the
Orang
Asli Archive for
general
information). Many of them live in or near
rainforest areas. One of these areas is around the legendary
lotus-covered lake called Tasik Chini near the mountain called Gunung
Chini in the state of Pahang.
The Orang Asli
around Tasik Chini belong to the
Jakun (also called Orang Hulu) who live in the south-east part of
Pahang
but they feel, and through marriages are, also connected to other Orang
Asli groups, in particular the
Semelai around Tasik Bera (see also
Stories
of the Lake). They
practise consensus
politics with
equal rights for men and women. Their traditional
life-style is gradually being replaced by a more modern life-style, but
unemployment and poverty make it hard to keep pace with the
rapid economic developments in Malaysia.
See
History
and Profile for an illustrated account of
developments in the Orang Asli community at Tasik
Chini.
See
Annotated Slide
Shows for 150 photos taken in the years 1989-2005
and arranged in 10 topical slide shows that highlight various aspects
of
Orang Asli life at
Tasik Chini. The slide shows cover,
among other topics, the
kenduri
-- a ritual meal
prepared on only three occasions in one's life, namely, birth, wedding,
and death.
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