Unreached People Group

Mendriq

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:33:35 +0800

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Who are the Mendriq?
The Mendriq are one the Orang Asli people groups living in the Peninsular Malaysia. They come under the Semang (officially called Negrito) subgroup.

The Mendriq are believed to be one of the first groups of people to inhabit the Peninsula. Like the Negrito, they are mostly dark-skinned and frizzy-haired; their features resemble Papua New Guinean or east African people. They are generally shorter in stature than other Malaysians.

The Mendriq were nomadic but resettlement projects have forced many to settle down permanently in Orang Asli settlements situated in the Gua Musang district of Kelantan.

What are their lives like?
In the past, the Mendriq were foragers who practiced migratory patterns of settlement by shifting from one area to another to take advantage of the seasonal fruit harvest. Besides gathering fruits, they foraged for food and gathered forest produce for medical use.

Land resettlement has robbed them of their identity and history as well as their economic security. Poverty and loss of their traditional areas (saka) have profoundly demoralized the rural Mendriq. Their saka were not just sources for food, but group identity. Stories of their past are rooted in the landscape of their saka.

Presently, they are growing cash crops but struggle to make enough money to pay for food and other necessities because of the competitive prices of produce. Meanwhile, without access to traditional forest food and with little time and land to grow subsistence crops, their diet has deteriorated, causing malnutrition.

They resist settling down in reserves. Most individuals lack the education and skills needed for other work and often take labor jobs in a modern market economy. Therefore, whenever supplies of food are not forthcoming, they will stop working on the projects and set out into the forest to forage and collect forest produce.

What do they believe?
The Mendriq are animists. They subject themselves to the natural forces of the jungle. They strongly fear the spirits of dead ancestors and hunted animals. Their lives are governed by a string of taboos and superstitions. Every January the Mendriq hold a mysterious ritual called Puja Pantang. This is a three-day ritual where all daily routine activities are forbidden. Outsiders are not allowed to enter the Mendriq settlements during this period. Consequently, the precise nature of this ritual remains unknown.

What are their needs?
There has been significant change in the life, traditions, worldview, and community systems of the Mendriq. This has occurred in conjunction with their contact with people outside the forested domain. They also need to develop their skills in order to face the changes they are experiencing. Pray for believers who will come alongside to be an advocate for the Mendriq as they adjust to a more contemporary lifestyle. Pray for local believers who will relate and respond to all the needs of the Mendriq.

Mah Meri

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:31:10 +0800

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Who are the Mah Meri?
The Mah Meri (Mah meaning people and Meri meaning forest), originally known as the Besisi, also call themselves Ma Betisek, which means, "people with fish scales". The Mah Meri are one of the Orang Asli people groups of Peninsular Malaysia. They are officially classified under Senoi subgroup.

There is no information on their origin, but the Mah Meri tribe claims to have walked the earth for as long as one can remember. They live in the states of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Malacca, and Johor.

What are their lives like?
Living in small wooden houses set in harmony with the surrounding forces of nature, the Mah Meri prefer to remain "forest people." Hence in their villages, life seems relatively untouched by modern progress. They are known for their woodcarving skills, yet their economic activity remains rooted in agriculture and fishing. They resist employment outside of their community.

The Mah Meri are soft-spoken and trusting with a propensity to laugh in the face of adversity. While the adults carry out their daily economic activities, the children often ride their father's bicycles and play their favorite games with sticks, seeds, and other objects. Surprisingly, the Mah Meri community has managed to preserve a tradition of spiritual woodcarving that is truly world class in terms of quality of its craft and artistry. The art, which has rich mythological meanings behind the images and symbols, is handed down from father to son. As not many people seem interested in such animistic carvings, the young Mah Meri do not see it as a profitable trade.

What do they believe?
The Mah Meri believe that humans, plants, animals, and even inanimate objects possess spirits, which interact with the daily lives of the Mah Meri. They say that ancestral spirits cursed plants and animals to become food for humans. Yet, paradoxically they also believe illness or injury is caused by offended spirits of plants or animals which have been killed. Natural disasters are the result of transgression of their moral code.

In earlier times, woodcarving of characters or moyang masks and figures from folk stories were used in spirit huts and left in the jungle, as offerings to the forest forces. All Mah Meri agree that the mythological characters are supreme. They believe some of the moyang influence health, illness, and healing. Their main festival is the Day of the Ancestors where offerings and rituals are made to their ancestral spirits. They see dreams as indicators of future events. The Mah Meri are rather resistant towards outside beliefs.

What are their needs?
The physical needs of the Mah Meri are many. They are poor, lacking in proper health care and clean water. They live in dilapidated houses, and their children have very little chance of receiving a proper education. Ask for caring believers who can assist in meeting the physical needs. Pray also for local believers who will relate and respond to the spiritual needs of these people.

Kuala

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:29:50 +0800

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Who are the Orang Kuala?
The Orang Kuala, also known as Duano, are one of the Orang Asli people groups living in Peninsular Malaysia. They come under the Aboriginal Malay (officially and administratively called Proto-Malay) subgroup.

Orang Kuala means "People of the River Mouth," but the Orang Kuala call themselves Duano. Some Orang Kuala may also use the term Desin Dolaq, which means "People of the Sea" (or Orang Laut in the Malay language). Their ancestors were Muslim immigrants from the coasts of southern Sumatra and the Riau-Lingga archipelago in Indonesia.

The Orang Kuala live mostly in the villages located near the river mouths of the Batu Pahat, and Pontian districts of Johor.

What are their lives like?
The Orang Kuala are admittedly peaceful, simple folks. They are not particularly attracted to technology, and only a small percentage completes their secondary education. In the past, they were boat-dwelling sea nomads, and specialized in sea fishing as well as searching and hunting for food on seashore. Today, most of the Orang Kuala make their living by fishing. They use different types of traps ranging from traditional to modern. In addition to fishing, small-scale farming and plantation work are important occupations for the Orang Kuala. For the most part, they specialize in harvesting the produce of the sea, shore, and mangroves for their own consumption and for trade. In at least one village, some are recognized for being quite skilled in restoring and selling second-hand furniture. They have adopted many aspects of Malay culture and lifestyle. However, racial prejudice by neighboring ethnic groups has caused some of the Orang Kuala to feel ashamed of their ethnic origin. Nevertheless, most remain proud of their origin. This is evident as other ethnic groups living in the same area are better off economically than most of the Orang Kuala.

What do they believe?
The Orang Kuala converted to Islam during the 19th century, yet many orient their daily personal and communal lives toward traditional animistic practices. For example, they believe that failure to respect the environment - the abode of the spirits (hantu) - results in illness, conflict, and death. A fisherman who dares to cast a net during the rainy season without performing the prescribed ritual inevitably suffers. The only cure lies in exorcism and appeasement of the spirits.

Like many Asian Muslims, they have retained many of their pre-Islamic religious beliefs and rituals. Customs and traditions have been harmonized with Islamic law. To the Orang Kuala the world is full of environmental spirits that cause either sickness or good fortune. Many of them still believe in superstition and evil spirits. They also believe that religious leaders, dwarfs, and traditional "medicine men" possess supernatural powers.

What are their needs?
Educational and economic development is spreading throughout the land of Malaysia. Like many of the other Orang Asli groups, however, the Orang Kuala are lagging behind because they are not attracted to education or technology. Pray that local believers will relate and respond to the needs of these people. Ask the Creator to give believers wisdom who are willing to sacrifice time and effort to help the Orang Kuala.

Kintaq

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:27:37 +0800

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Who are the Kintaq?
The Kintaq are one of the Orang Asli people groups living in Peninsular Malaysia. They come under the Semang (officially called Negrito) subgroup. Their language is very close to that of the Kensiu, another Orang Asli tribe with whom they share settlements and have close socioeconomic relations.

Most of the nomadic Kintaq have settled down mainly in the jungle areas of Grik in the Hulu Perak district of Perak. A few Kintaq live in Kelantan.

What are their lives like?
Their main economic activities are hunting and gathering jungle produce. They collect forest produce for trade in the local market as well as for their own consumption. Some have learned basic farming, but the harvest is never enough to support their families. A few make their living as employees in plantations and factories.

Like the Kensiu, the Kintaq have very little formal education. They have also resisted schooling because of its association with Malay culture and the Islamic religion. Most of them are illiterate and uneducated. Therefore, they struggle to keep pace with the other people groups in a developing and fast changing Malaysian society.

Traditionally, the Kintaq were nomadic people moving in bands within a defined area. They dressed in rudimentary clothing made from bark, roots, leaves, and fibers of trees and vines. Since commercialization has spread even to the remotest areas in the Malay Peninsula, most have settled down permanently. Today, they live in standard houses developed by the Department of Aborigines Affairs - a small version of a the rural Malay house. Prefabricated from wooden timbers and planks, a typical Kintaq house is a rectangular structure on short posts with a veranda at the front, one or two living or sleeping rooms, and a kitchen at the back.

They have also adopted modern clothing for the monthly occasions when they come in touch with the outside world. Their small stature, dark brown skin and curly, kinky hair make them rather easily distinguished from other people.

What do they believe?
The Kintaq are basically animists. Most of them follow their traditional religion, a complex set of beliefs and practices that connect them to their environment and fellow Kintaq. They have a large body of myths and legends together with a belief in supernatural deities. They also perform diverse religious practices, many of which are borrowed from neighboring tribes. However, they would deny having a certain form of worship and belief. Like their cousin Kensiu, their outlook on life is "Live for today. Let tomorrow take care of itself." They believe that nature will give blessings, but they also believe in the presence of spirits in places like bridges, graves, and nature.

What are their needs?
The Kintaq have been left behind in the rising prosperity of the nation. In effect, they are actually becoming even poorer. To make matters worse, they are not receiving any formal education or skills training. Pray that God will call out resourceful believers to help them from even a more difficult situation in the future. Pray for "beautiful feet" that will travel to tell the Kintaq the good news.

Kensiu

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:26:07 +0800

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Who are the Kensiu?
The Kensiu are one of Orang Asli ethnic groups living in Peninsular Malaysia. They are classified under the Semang (officially called Negrito) category.

Their language is very close to that of the Kintaq, another Orang Asli tribe with whom they share settlements and have close socio-economic relations. The Kensiu are closely related to the Kensiu of Thailand, and cross-border movement is frequent. The Kensiu's main settlement is located in the Baling district of Kedah. A few of the Kensiu can be found living in Perak and Kelantan.

What are their lives like?
Racial prejudice from neighboring people groups has caused the Kensiu to avoid contact with outsiders. However, contact with the outside world has brought not only slight improvements in living standards but also changes that are stressful for many. Attempts by the government to modernize the Kensiu have caused drastic changes to their traditional lifestyle, with the infiltration of alien belief systems and values. Many Kensiu find it difficult to cope and have found this transition traumatic.

Kampong Baru Siong is one such settlement located in the Baling district of Kedah. There is very little activity in this small village, which contains approximately 50 houses, a school and a community hall. Many houses appear vacant. The community hall is on the verge of collapse. A few cows and goats graze in a field located within the vicinity of the village. Attendance at the primary school is low.

Many of the settlers have returned to the jungle area along the Malaysia-Thailand border. There they take forest products such as rare wood, resins, honey, and herbs to the nearest Thai market to exchange for salt, knives, tobacco, cloth, and other necessities from the modern world. Occasionally, they return to the village but stay for only a short period of time. They are not motivated to attend school. Possibly, they have associated the word "school" with the Malays, whom they have rejected. This apathy to public education has been reinforced by teachers urging them to study Islamic education. Those who live in this village do not permit intermarriage with people outside the community. They marry only their cousin Kensiu living in Thailand or people of the Kintaq community. Those who marry outsiders have to move out of the village.

What do they believe?
Despite inroads made by Islam, ancient beliefs remain strong in their society. One unique feature of the Kensiu is their Dikir Barat - a rare unique form of singing, which is performed only at important gatherings.

Their philosophy is, "Blessings are for today. Tomorrow is tomorrow's matter". They believe that nature will give blessings. Although they do not believe in any god, they believe the presence of spirits reside in places like bridges, and graves, and trees.

What are their needs?
In fast developing Malaysia, the Kensiu need incentives to improve their standard of living. Their habit of nomadic living makes it difficult to reach them with any education or skills training. Pray for resourceful believers who will take the necessary time and make the sacrifices to help this small, remote group of people. Pray that local believers will relate and respond to each of the needs of these people.

Jakun

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:24:16 +0800

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Who are the Jakun?
The Jakun are the second largest Orang Asli people groups of Peninsular Malaysia. They are part of the Aboriginal Malay (officially called Proto-Malay) subgroup. The Jakun are believed to have lived in the Peninsula for 7,000 years. The Department of Orang Asli Affairs labels them Orang Hulu (People of the Upriver), a term which the Jakun refer to themselves.

The major Malay attitude towards the Jakun is of two minds. On one hand, they are considered less civilized and skilled in "black magic" (the word jakun is pejorative in Malay, implying an uncivilized person) while on the other they are regarded as proof that the country has always been inhabited by people of the Malay type (hence the more polite and official name Orang Asli or "original people"). Jakun settlements can be found in the Malaysian states of Johor and Pahang. In the past, their settlements extended over a much larger area of the southern peninsula.

What are their lives like?
Traditionally hunter-gatherers, the Jakun are now more settled than most of Malaysia's Orang Asli groups. They live by setting fish traps in rivers and streams. They hunt game with blowpipes and poison darts, and gather fruit and forest products for bartering.

In some areas the Jakun grow rice or tapioca root, but they often prefer to get these commodities, along with tobacco, gambier, and areca nut, from Malay and Chinese traders in exchange for rattan, wax, woods, resin, and camphor they gather in the forest. In many regions, the Jakun have followed a Malay way of life, growing fruit, rubber, and rice as well as rearing animals. It is difficult to say how many Jakun there are because they have been speaking Malay as their mother tongue for at least 200 years. The people group picture is complicated by the presence of a number of mixed tribes made up of people of different races. Jakun have intermarried with Malays, Chinese, Senoi, and Semang people. A number of them have become nominal Muslims - meaning that the government views them as Malays for census and legal purposes.

What do they believe?
Apart from believing in the existence of spirits and supernatural beings, the Jakun also believe that a "god of the above" controls the skies while a "god of the lower" rules the earth. The Jakun bomoh or witchdoctor is both feared and respected in their society. He deals with the spirits in each Jakun village and is more influential than the village chief. If questioned on their religious beliefs, some Jakun who have considerable contact with the Malay people would say that their god is the Lord Allah, but there is no semblance of praying to Allah. Moreover many are not Muslims in any other respect.

What are their needs?
Many Jakun are in a state of transition. They have given up hunting and foraging for food for agriculture in order to survive. Some will need educational and agricultural assistance during this transition period. Pray that believers will be willing to make time and sacrifices to help the Jakun. Pray that they will relate and respond to all the needs of people.

Che Wong

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:18:58 +0800

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Who are the Chewong?
The Chewong is an original Orang Asli people groups living in Peninsular Malaysia. They belong to the Senoi subgroup. They are actually known as Siwang, but Chewong is a more familiar name because this is how people know them.

The Chewong are found in groups living near the villages of other races and those still living in the jungles. Their settlements are located in the Raub district of Pahang, Perak, Selangor, and Johor.

What are their lives like?
The deep forest areas constitute the Chewong's environment. The forest is a cool place that provides the basis for their subsistence, is a barrier for diseases, and affords relief from the heat of the villages. While some of the Chewong live near Malay villages, others still live deep in the rainforest and live off hunting, fishing, and collecting forest produce.

The Chewong are mainly farmers and hunters. They live close to, or within, forested areas where they engage in hill rice cultivation and grow a little tobacco. Cassava is planted all around the field to deter animals that might otherwise ruin the highly valued rice crops. Small manioc gardens are maintained in the forest and provide supplies for hunter-gatherers. They also trade in petai, durian, rattan, and resins to earn cash incomes. The Chewong men hunt pig, deer, and bear while women catch tortoises, monitor lizards, and porcupines. Women also help make and inspect pig traps in the field. Fishing is carried out in rivers and streams, with hooks, nets, and poison. Fishing by hand brings in the best catch.

The Chewong's settlements or camps move and follow the cycles of land clearing. Each residential unit is the nuclear family or the families of one household, and includes two to six individuals. The extended family is economically self-sufficient and politically independent.

What do they believe?
The Chewong believe in the existence of numerous evil spirits that can be kept away by building campfires. One spirit greatly feared by the Chewong is the bas, which they believe attacks the human soul for its food. Religious rituals are closely linked to their use of the forest. There are no specific ritual areas but there are traditionally dangerous places, dangerous species, and dangerous periods. Big ceremonies take place wherever there are strong mythological associations.

These associations entail many taboos regarding animals and plants found everywhere in the forest. There is no religious leader and any individual may use trance and chanting to communicate with these spirits, which are an integral part of the human environment.

What are their needs?
Development projects are taking away forested areas where the Chewong once thrived. Pray for adequate government protection for the environment that the Chewong live in will be developed and implemented. Pray also that social ministry will arise from among believers to help meet the needs of the Chewong.