Orang Asli
Orang Asli
The Orang Asli are the indigenous people of Malaysia. The term ‘Orang Asli’, is a Malay term, which translates to ‘First people’ or ‘Original People’. Currently, there is a population of around 149 500, 60 percent living in the forest and 40 percent living around the coast. However, Orang Asli are not one huge group of people – they are 18 types of tribes that are categorized into three main groups, according to their customs and religion: Senoi, Proto Malay and Negrito. These groups are said to have a historical link with people from Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma and Thailand. Each group has their own language and lifestyle, and has a different appearance from others. However, there are semi-nomadic Orang Asli, who choose to live in urban area, while earning wages from jobs.
The Negritos are said to come from Papua New Guinea or East Africa, because of their frizzy hair and dark skin. They live in the Jungle in North and North East of the Malaysian Peninsular, with a population of about 2000 people. Being known as one of the earliest inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula, they live in much more primitive settlements than the other groups of Orang Asli.
The Senoi group of Orang Asli which are hunter gatherers and live around the Cameron Highlands, a large hill station around the size of Singapore. They have a total population of 60,000 and are believed to have come from the hills in South Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia around 6000 – 8000 years ago. For the Senoi that live in the highlands, they work as jobholders working on the highland tea estates. However, not all Senoi pick to live in the highlands. Others travel to places like Kuala Lumpur, where you can see them wearing modern clothes such as jeans and a T-shirt. There many work as taxi drivers or government employees.
The Proto Malays is a group of Orang Asli that used to be Seafarers, travelling long distances between Madagascar and New Zealand. They were Mongoloid and Austronesian speaking
The Orang Asli are the indigenous people of Malaysia. The term ‘Orang Asli’, is a Malay term, which translates to ‘First people’ or ‘Original People’. Currently, there is a population of around 149 500, 60 percent living in the forest and 40 percent living around the coast. However, Orang Asli are not one huge group of people – they are 18 types of tribes that are categorized into three main groups, according to their customs and religion: Senoi, Proto Malay and Negrito. These groups are said to have a historical link with people from Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma and Thailand. Each group has their own language and lifestyle, and has a different appearance from others. However, there are semi-nomadic Orang Asli, who choose to live in urban area, while earning wages from jobs.
The Negritos are said to come from Papua New Guinea or East Africa, because of their frizzy hair and dark skin. They live in the Jungle in North and North East of the Malaysian Peninsular, with a population of about 2000 people. Being known as one of the earliest inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula, they live in much more primitive settlements than the other groups of Orang Asli.
The Senoi group of Orang Asli which are hunter gatherers and live around the Cameron Highlands, a large hill station around the size of Singapore. They have a total population of 60,000 and are believed to have come from the hills in South Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia around 6000 – 8000 years ago. For the Senoi that live in the highlands, they work as jobholders working on the highland tea estates. However, not all Senoi pick to live in the highlands. Others travel to places like Kuala Lumpur, where you can see them wearing modern clothes such as jeans and a T-shirt. There many work as taxi drivers or government employees.
The Proto Malays is a group of Orang Asli that used to be Seafarers, travelling long distances between Madagascar and New Zealand. They were Mongoloid and Austronesian speaking