I was invited by a staff from the Education and Training Unit to join her team visiting Orang Asli (OA) or Indigenous People's settlements in Hulu Langat, Selangor on 22 December 2016 (Thursday), Malaysia. Two intern students in the Malaysian national human rights institution and the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR) also joined the visit. The aim of the visit is to expose participants to the fieldwork conducted by the project officer and the focal point of OA in the Malaysian national human rights institution (NHRI).
Participants started their trip from the Maju Junction Parkson, Chowkit
in Kuala Lumpur to Hulu Langat through Ampang. It was an hour driving
from Kuala Lumpur to the first village. Basic details, here.
I have got a lot of information from Mazni, the MCCHR officer who deals with the project related to these indigenous group. She briefed us about the OA as a marginalised group in Malaysia. She mentioned that some of the OA are reluctant to accept modernisation or being involved with it. They would rather move inland rather than engaging with the world outside. The concerns pertaining these people are concentrated on creating their awareness to protect their basic rights. So, Mazni suggested the team visiting two different settlements in order to see the differences in mentality.
Matters related to the OA started to fascinate me since I was enlisted (non-voluntarily) as a trainee in the National Service (NS) around 2004. I mingled with an OA guy from Rawang, Selangor. He speaks a form of language which sounds like a rudimentary Malay. So, I guess he might belong to a Proto-Malay sub-tribe. The guy related to me many OA past time's activities such as how to make samsu (Chinese rice wine) from rice and cleared many myths surrounding them, especially on mysticism. The guy was illiterate, married and has a son when I mingled with him. We were 18 during the training took place. Anyway, it was not a 'real' NS training in the terms of conscription or mandatory military services like in Thailand, China, Taiwan or even Israel. I would comment on this matter separately when I am free.
Several informal reports were also made by Malaysian students and public about the communities across Malaysian Peninsula. I have found some for my personal reference specifically in Hulu Langat:
I have got a lot of information from Mazni, the MCCHR officer who deals with the project related to these indigenous group. She briefed us about the OA as a marginalised group in Malaysia. She mentioned that some of the OA are reluctant to accept modernisation or being involved with it. They would rather move inland rather than engaging with the world outside. The concerns pertaining these people are concentrated on creating their awareness to protect their basic rights. So, Mazni suggested the team visiting two different settlements in order to see the differences in mentality.
Matters related to the OA started to fascinate me since I was enlisted (non-voluntarily) as a trainee in the National Service (NS) around 2004. I mingled with an OA guy from Rawang, Selangor. He speaks a form of language which sounds like a rudimentary Malay. So, I guess he might belong to a Proto-Malay sub-tribe. The guy related to me many OA past time's activities such as how to make samsu (Chinese rice wine) from rice and cleared many myths surrounding them, especially on mysticism. The guy was illiterate, married and has a son when I mingled with him. We were 18 during the training took place. Anyway, it was not a 'real' NS training in the terms of conscription or mandatory military services like in Thailand, China, Taiwan or even Israel. I would comment on this matter separately when I am free.
Several informal reports were also made by Malaysian students and public about the communities across Malaysian Peninsula. I have found some for my personal reference specifically in Hulu Langat:
- Kajian Lapangan: Perkampungan Orang Asli Sungai Gabai, Hulu Langat
- End of project meeting: Memperkasakan Pemuda Orang Asli, MCCHR 2014
- Information, Perlus Waterfall, Sungai Gabai and Orang Asli's settlement
- Information, Sungai Tekala, Hulu Langat Recreational Park
These would be included into my personal adventure retreat if I am not
joining any visit conducted by the office. Some websites said that you
have to be adventurous to work in international relations field.
However, I personally believe that people may choose what kind of
adventure they would like to be engaged. I think I prefer outdoor as
compared to a closed office, meeting rooms or in buildings. It does not
have to be classy ones. Even a simple adventure would give me a
pleasure.
