OCT 26 — The Orang Asli’s customs and way of doing things may seem “strange” and often given the derogatory label “primitive or uncivilized” by many even today.

This is simply because many of us are not familiar with their cultures. The Orang Asli too, in return, would look at city folks and wonder why we go about doing things the way we do.

However, if we were to take the effort to get to know some Orang Asli, as friends and fellow citizens, we might perhaps see that their way makes perfectly good sense in terms of their own culture and environment.

There are three main tribal groups found in peninsular Malaysia – Negrito, Senoi, and Aboriginal Malay. They are divided into 18 sub-ethnic groups all with their own languages and customs.

Their communities of about 148,000 people make up about five per cent of the total population in Malaysia (compared this to the sizable 17 per cent of the Indigenous population of Sabah and Sarawak).  Most of them prefer to live in the forested areas but many younger ones are making their way into the cities.

These small groups of early Malaysians have been poorly integrated by the country’s administration for over 50 years and consequently, many are still uneducated and are among the poorest and with shorter life expectancy.  Despite all the odds stake against them, many of the Orang Asli are still doing things their own way, no doubt with some changes as they adapt to the outside world.

On show now till 31 October, at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), is a collective photographic exhibition by two Orang Aslis together with four friends from LESTARI, University Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Mahat Anak Cina, 58, is a Semai from Perak. He has been an RTM radio announcer for the Orang Asli channel for 28 years and is also a poet and novelist. Recently he has taken up photography and this is his first display of images of his own community.

Mahat said, “I am proud of this historic occasion; this is the first time we can show to the world how we look like now. We are not always dressed in grass skirts or headgears with painted faces. We may still do those things during special events but for the rest of the time we look like everyone else. We are also talented in many creative things. I hope my black and white pictures convey some new insights into the faces of my fellow brothers and sisters. Hopefully this would encourage more of us to take up the challenge to improve and protect our heritage and our rights.’

Ronnie, 32, with Semai roots too, grew up in the Orang Asli area of Gombak just outside Kuala Lumpur. He is working as a photographer for a government agency. He took up photography a few years ago and spent a lot of his time, during weekends, documenting the different ethnic groups.

“Most of the photographic images of our people are usually done by photographers from outside of our groups.  Now we like to do the job of representing ourselves as many more of us are able to use the camera. Digital technology has also made it easier and more affordable. This is also my first exhibition and my colour photos try to capture a certain Orang Asli look.  Especially the look of fear — scared of unfriendly strangers, up to no good, coming into their village. Our history is full of sad stories of outside exploitations of our culture and environment.” said Ronnie.

There is undoubtedly a need for a better regulated exploitation of the natural habitat for commercial purposes which will not disadvantage and also erode the rights of the Orang Asli. Furthermore, this rapid rate of deforestation also endangers many species of plants and animals and disrupts the vital ecological system of our mountains and rivers which in the end will have an effect on all our lives.

On show are photographs of some unique and beautiful frogs and snakes by zoologists Norhayati and Chan. They both are passionate photographers and keen to show us the hidden amphibian world in their natural environments, usually also found close to many Orang Asli settlements.

Norhayati urges us to “think again as we go about busy with development. The amphibians have been around even longer then the dinosaurs (more the 50 millions years) but in many parts of the world including Malaysia, they are vanishing and declining in numbers. These creatures live in many types of habitats, from coastal areas to the mountain tops. They are all sensitive to changes in their environment. Come take a closer look, without fear of slimy and dark holes, see the fantastic range of forms, shapes and colours of these creatures.”

Also in this exhibition are eighteen photographs in 9 panels with captions by anthropologist Hood Salleh and the images are mine. Each of these panels presents an aspect of the Orang Asli’s traditional knowledge in their daily life — their oral tradition, kinship, marriage, food, beauty secrets, architecture, farming, fishing etc.

According to Hood Salleh “the Orang Asli has a long tradition and many of their knowledge of how to live peacefully in a communial manner and their sustainable strategy for farming and hunting for food can perhaps show us a better understanding and appreciation of our living environments. We urgently need to find a sustainable solution to balance between development and the future of our planet.”

On Sunday 31 October, from 12 noon till 6 pm, there will be a gathering of Orang Asli and their family and friends at the KLPac and they will talk, read, sing, dance to some of their music with their musicians. There will also be books and crafts for sale by Geria Orang Asli.

Photo Exhibition of Orang asli and their environments: till 31 Oct at KLPac.

Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), Jln. Strachan, Sentul Park, off Jln. Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur

Daily: 10am to 10pm, free entrance, Tel: (03) 4047 9010

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.