Social historical relationships between some Orang Asli communities and the outside world

Abstract

The paper is an attempt to outline some patterns of social interaction which have evolved between Orang Asli (aboriginal) societies and Malay society on the Malay Peninsula. The time frame spans the last 150 years from the pre-colonial, colonial to the post-colonial (Independence) period. Because of their prolonged contact with Malays, Orang Asli have been known to look at their society through "the screen of Malay culture", an observation originally suggested by the anthropologist Geoffrey Benjamin. The paper also attempts to suggest some sociological perspectives that may be useful to interpret the multi-faceted relationships between the communities. The writer also says something about the experience of his own society.