Adat in the making : lived identity in the Johol temuan society

Abstract

Malaysia is a country that is proud of its multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. In addition to the three main ethnicities (the Malays, the Chinese, and the Indians), there are the Orang Asli' (original peoples, indigenous peoples). Orang Asli account for less than 1% of the total population (i.e. about 132,873 people), but are quite diverse, as they can be subdivided into 3 groups and 19 subgroups. The first group is the Negrito, comprising the Kintaq, Kensiu, Jahai, Mendriq, Batek, and the Lanoh. They lead the lives of hunters and gatherers, mostly in the northern parts of the Malay Peninsula, with a total number of about 3,000. Next there are the Senoi, which include the Semai, Temiar, Jah Hut, Semaq Beri, Chewong, and Mah Meri. Most of them live in the central highland plains, engaging less and less in nomadic/shifting cultivation. The third Orang Asli group are the Proto-Malays, who live in the lower hills and mountain areas in the south of the Malay Peninsula. They can be subdivided into the Temuan, Semelai, Jakun, Orang Kanaq, Orang Kuala, and Orang Seletar. As Scholar said, "Orang Asli is a modern Malay myth (Hood 1990: 141)." To be an ethnic group, obviously do not form because they are the same physical character, or share the same language and culture, or because they lived in the same area. They form because they were classified into the same group, and gave a name by the authority, and form by they face the same treats, claim their rights, and against the treats in the various developing projects.