Orang Asli Village of Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands Orang Asli Village (16 September, 2005)


The Orang Asli are the indigenous people who dwell in the forest of Peninsular Malaysia. The name is Malay for, literally, "original people", and is a collective term to denote the 18 sub-ethnic groups generally classified as Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Malay. In the Orang Asli census of 1997 number them around 105,000 people.

Orang Asli can be found in many different parts of Malaysia, and their choice of lifestyle is dependent of where they dwell. The Orang Laut, Orang Seletar and Mah Meri live along the coast and are fishermen. The Temuan, Jakun and Semai have taken to agriculture, some even manage to own rubber, oil palm and cocoa plantations. Still, about 40% of the Orang Asli population continue to be forest dwellers. They cultivate hill rice, and engage in hunting and gathering, and trade in forest produce such as petai, durian, rattan and resins. The forest dwellers include the Semai, Temiar, Che Wong, Jah Hut, Semelai and Semoq Beri. A small number continue a nomadic lifestyle deep in the rainforest. This includes Negrito groups such as the Jahai and Lanoh.

Orang Asli giving a blowpipe demonstration. (16 September, 2005)


Solar power provides electricity for basic necessities. (16 September, 2005)


Visitors gather inside the Orang Asli house (16 September, 2005)


Nature guide giving a lecture of the Orang Asli, inside the house (16 September, 2005)


Mosquito nets inside the Orang Asli house (16 September, 2005)


It is incorrect to assume that the Orang Asli live isolated and cut off from out outside world. Economic dealings with the communities on the fringes of the forest has been going on for hundreds of years, especially between the Proto-Malay groups with the neighbouring Malay communities. They traded their forest produce for salt, knives, metal axe-heads, among others.

The Orang Asli Today

Visitors hoping to see orang asli in "forest attire" is certainly in for grand disappointment. Yes, they wear modern clothes too. And they would appreciate it a lot if visitors come with used clothes which they can use. As far as appearance goes, they look Malay. Naturally there is a difference between the Orang Asli and the Malays that tell them apart. The majority are stoutl their features are rugged and their height is by average lower than the Malays.

Fish traps inside the Orang Asli house (16 September, 2005)


A basket and two forest durians on the porch of the Orang Asli house (16 September, 2005)


A forest "hangbag", good as a durian carrier case! (16 September, 2005)


Visits to Orang Asli villages deep in the forest of Cameron Highlands is now available. These are arranged with the ecological guides, who will provide the necessary information on these people, and at the same time, educate visitors on the forest planst and herbs.

Orang Asli would appreciate it if you bring along a donation of used clothing. The photographs in this gallery are taken from our ecology trip with AsiaExplorers members made to visit the Orang Asli.

Orang Asli giving a blowpipe demonstration. (16 September, 2005)


Orang Asli giving a blowpipe demonstration. (16 September, 2005)

Back to Cameron Highlands, Pahang mainpage

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.