Weekend With ASLI SUMMER CAMP

I still remember during one of the weekend in IIUM, I spent my time with Orang Asli students for a special programme. The programme is known as Asli Summer Camp 2.0 was focusing on the children of aboriginal people in Malaysia who are mainly schooling in Selangor as our participants. The students involved were 70 peoples and the range of age are from 7 years old to 11 years old, which can be categorized as students of primary school. They come from various school as they have been selected by JAKOA which is the organization that we are collaborate with. The program were handled by 4 clubs in IIUM which are JASA, PERKIM, TITIAN ASLI, and COMRADE. The total of the IIUM student who are participating in the programme as the committee and facilitators are 36 people, including me.
The program of "Asli Summer Camp 2" is a community project by IIUM students that aim to integrate the sense of awareness on the importance of knowledge and education in the aboriginal children and to tone up the skills that they having in themselves. These children will be exposed to the environment of the university and they will do some activities that can make them interested to learn more passionately and we are also focusing on shapping their moral and akhlak. Our main objectives are as follows :
  • To improve overall education level of Asli students and to heighten their awareness about the importance of knowledge.
  •  To integrate the Asli students who come from different ethnicity of Orang Asli in Malaysia.
  •  To develop self-potential and leadership skills of Asli students for the betterment of their lives as well as to assist them to achieve life goals.
  • To boost up their self-confidence and self-esteem.
  •  To expose Asli students to university environment and encourage them in furthering their studies pursuing their ambitions.
  • To show Asli students that study can be fun and very important and useful in life.
  •  To broaden Asli students’ views on life and the prospective futures that they have in realizing their dreams.
  •  To incorporate the Islamic way of life among students.

One of the reasons that make me feel like I want to join this programme is because I think that I can get involved directly with the Orang Asli community throughout this programme. In other words, I am not just learning their culture by theory in class or reading it via websites or books, but I could apply my knowledge and challenge myself to deal with them. Just to be honest, it is challenging but yet very meaningful. If I were given another chance to have more programmes later on, I will take the opportunity. Anyway, here is the full report for the programme. It is highly encouraged for you to read so that you can get the view on the programme. 

Our program were held on 17th of April (Friday) until 19th of April 2015 (Sunday) at our beloved university which is Islamic International University Malaysia (IIUM) and also at Petrosains Negara on the the last day of the programme. The events were started at 3 PM which is after Jumaah prayer. Upon the arrival of the students and accompanied by their teachers as their guardians, the programme are started its opening ceremony in the mosque at the ground floor as the booked venue were occupied with another event. After the briefing made by the representative of the mosque regarding the do’s and don’ts as the rooms in the mosque will be used as the accommodation . After several opening remarks by the Programme Manager and speech by a representative of the teachers who are they, our programme were officially started at 4 PM.
After the opening ceremony, we continued the programme by dividing the participants into 7 groups and the kids are divided randomly which means in a group there will be students from different schools and ages. After dividing them,  we took a break for Asr prayers, self-preparation, and dinner until Maghrib prayers. Some of the committees were assigned to take over the muslim and the rest will take over non-muslim students as the ratio of non-muslim students is more than muslim students by 2/3 more that the muslim students.
      Each prayers were performed together with the committees and the facilitators .The dinner were prepared by committees of catering and when the dinner are ready the kids will were instructed to be in line as that is one of the rules appointed for the kids in order to shaped their disciplines. Other than that,it will help us in controlling their movement. As for dinners and every eating time, the kids were taught to wait for others before they start to eat. As the kids were no taking any meals yet before they come to IIUM and we were not informed about the situation, the kids eat right after the opening ceremony and Asr Prayer.
After dinner, they proceed with self-preparation and Maghrib prayers before they separate the muslim students’ for “Smart Wudhu’”. Smart wudhu’ is the slot conducted by bureau of Dakwah and Welfare. Eventhough there were lacking here and there but overall  the slot are well conducted but there are some improvement that still can be done by the responsible bureau. After Isya’congregational prayers, all of them were moved to square of education department for LDK 1 which were held by the module bureau.
Upon arrival to the place,  non-muslim students were handled by the committee and facilitators . They watch several short stories that contained elements of morality and most of it are cartoons that are suitable for the kids. The kids were in their best behaviour as they are enchanted by the screen in front of them. After that, LDK 1 were officially started and the module for LDK 1 are ice- breaking. It is a module where the facilitators and the students need to introduce themselves and the session  were accompanied by the games that they need to accomplish while  introducing themselves. During that time also, the theme song for the program were introduced and the kids are notably likes it.
Before the end of day , the kids, committees and facilitators had their suppers at the cafĂ© of educations and after al-Mulk reading session, all the kids were shown to their rooms. The committees take turn to sleep because they need to watch over  the kids and also to makes sure everyone are fine. As the night goes well the report on the welfare of the students are also receiving by the bureau of welfare such cases are, there is a kids who fell from the upper level of double decker bed . The committee were worried to handled her and decided to treat her next morning. There are also several of students who were not sleeping until 3am as they were too excited meeting new friends.
Second days arrived and the first things to do after subuh  prayer was morning exercise. The exercise were held at HS riverside. The exercise were handled very well by the sport bureau that the kids are enjoy it so much . After exercise for one hour, finally, the student, committee and facilitators took their frst breakfast together. After the breakfast, all the activities were held at the seminar room in CCAC LDK 2 are started at 8.30 and continue until LDK 6 which end at 4.30PM and during the LDK time, the only time that are they stop playing their LDKs are during tea-break time and lunch cum Zohor prayer.
After tea-break and Asr prayer, they proceed with explorace before they stopped for dinner and self-preparation. During the gap between maghrib time and Isya’ prayer, the muslim student were taught on how to perform prayer in the right way, step by step . Isya’ prayer were performed together. The programme then continued with culture night from the participants, committees and the teachers. They went to sleep after having their supper.
On the next morning, the programme were started with Qiammullail with the participants. All of them are required to wake up early and as the kids is usually are wake up early in the morning so, it seems to be easy for them . Then after Subuh prayer, just like the day 2, they are required to do morning exercise before taking their breakfast. The module continued until 10.30 AM as there are closing ceremony that been held at the CCAC. All the participants, committees and facilitators are wearing the official clothes that they are receiving and the closing ceremony ended after distribution of prizes to the students. After the closing ceremony, the kids are bought to Petrosains and KLCC for a study trips and accompanied by their teachers and several committees and facilitators.
In conclusion, the program are progressing smoothly according to the tentative. Eventhough, the programme are running successfully, but we do have problems with the venue, as during the first day of the student to sleep in the mosque, the air-conditioner are not functioning but they are still charging us and the same thing happen in the next day, when the seminar room also don’t have the air-conditioning when we already books the venue beforehand. For the internal problems, it seems that we are lacking the committees of welfare as many kids are sick during the second and third day, especially on the second day. After all, the event is considered as successful.
Some of committees, participants and facilitators

One of the creative design by the participants

Cultural performance where participants need to perform about other culture


Well done. Do you manage to finish reading it all? Congratulation!



Programs for Orang Asli by JAKOA

For your information, there are program that is initiated specifically for Orang Asli.
That program called "Mesra Minda Program" and "Skill and Career Program".

Basically, this program is conducted by Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (JAKOA) in which JAKOA placed under Kementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah (KKLW).

Mesra Minda Program


Mesra Minda Program is a program which aims to establish close ties among officers and these indigenous people. In addition, Mesra Minda Program aims to create friendliness through activities conducted as well as to deliver latest information on the development made by JAKOA.

This program conducted at the chosen Orang Asli village at each of the JAKOA state on a rotation basis every year. Officers will be spending their nights there for about 2days 3nights in which it is either at the 'kampung pinggir' or 'pedalaman'.


Other agencies also involved in this program. For example:
  • Jab. Pendaftaran Negara
  • Jabatan Hutan
  • Jabatan Pendidikan
  • Jabatan Kesihatan
  • Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya
  • Suruhanjaya perkhidmatan Awam
  • Radio Asyik
  • Pusat GIAT Mara
  • Kolej-kolej kemahiran
  • Lembaga Pembangunan dan Perindustrian (CIDB)
  • Jabatan Penerangan
  • Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM)
  • Agensi Anti Dadah Kebangsaan (AADK)

SUKAN RAKYAT

Interestingly, there are some planned activities that will be conducted such as :
  • Exhibition
  • Sukan Rakyat (Tarik Tali, Menyumpit, Sepak Raga Bulatan, Anyaman Daun Kelapa ,Gubahan Bunga)
  • Demonstration (Sewing, Mechanics motor, beauty)
  • Informative entertainment (Asyik FM radio, Karaoke contest) 


Program Latihan Kemahiran & Kerjaya (PLKK)

This program aims to provide assistance in terms of financial and management. to enable the targeted group participate in the short training courses , medium training courses  and long term training courses as well as   MLVK basic skills (Malaysian Skills Certificate SKM SKM I & II).

This program intend to enhance the skills of the targeted group so that they can get a job or at least having a business on services which can generate much higher income and bring out their families from poverty. 


SEWING

Assistance will be given to the participants in all areas at different sectors such as:
  • Sewing
  • Food providers
  • Cuisine
  • Food processing
  • Clerks
  • Computer repair
  • Motor mechanics
  • Electrical
    Makeup / beauty / barber 
  • Interior decoration 
  • Crafts 
  • Manufacture of fiber glass boats 
  • Tour Guide 
  • Driver of the motor car / boat
  • etc. 
Training provided will be in collaboration with training centers such as KEMAS, IKBN, GIATMARA, NGO and private sectors which has training centers. 

Kaum Bateq 2

Economy 

Nowadays Kaum Bateq in Pahang survived by hunting and tourism industry. It is because all tourist should pay fees to enter Kaum Bateq area. A lot of tourists come to their area, there are from local and also international tourist. in prompt with this situation, they got a lot of clothes, books and many things from the visitors from inside and outside country.

However, they do not know how to manage money well. My tour guide had mentioned that they will buy a lot of food and toy in the 'pasar malam' after they get money.

Luckily, I was rent villa besides the 'pasar malam', and in the evening before I'm going back I saw a goup of Orang Asli went to the 'pasar malam' and buy a lot of thing.

Education

Thus, when I was visited there, I see that they wear clothes that had brand, and they also read novel. Furthermore, they also can  read English novels. They had learn English language from the visitors. they will collect little and little verb from the visitors that go there. besides, some of them was hired by tourism agency to be tour guide.

Kaum Bateq

Kaum Bateq is one of Orang Asli's tribes. I visited Kaum Bateq in National Park (Taman Negara Pahang). From the trip I gained a lot of information about them. Forest is their place to live and hunting activities to survive. They live as nomad.

  Belief


They beliefs that if there are death, they should moved from the place because the spirit of the dead body will disturb them. Accidentally, while I visited them, they just moved because one of them was died. However they only moved in the same area, and it is only behind the previous house.

Besides, the dead body is neither buried nor burn. But, they put the dead body on the high tree to avoid from being eaten by wild animal . Moreover, they put the dead body in high place to make the dead body aboard and not follow them back. The tree must far away, around 2 hours  from their place and in the forest  that no one can go there.

Marriage


Their customs in marriage is unique. A man that want to marry and at that time, he has fall in love, first, he must meet 'Tok Batin' and ask 'Tok Batin' to propose that woman . 'Tok Batin' will be an intermediary between them. However, the man need to know how to use blowpipe and had fulfill the requirement to marry, which is he already hunt some amount of animal to show that the man is able to support family.  If the man had completed the task, he will live together with the woman in a house and knowing each other. If the woman did not go out from the house after a day, it means they are suitable and are considered married.

Bahasa Brunei

Basically, Brunei used standard malay in formal situation (eg; occasion), but there are still many words that are differ from standard malay in which these are used in daily conversations.

The example are as follow:

Ani = Ini
Awu = Ya. (Awu banar = Ya Benar)
Usin = Duit
Indada = Tiada
Ia = Dia. ( Kenapa ia? = Kenapa dia?)
Kenapa kan = Kenapa tuh?
Sangal = Sengal ( Sangal aku kadi kau = Sengal aku dengan dia)
Panyap = Kemas (Panyap dulu barang2 ni = Kemas dulu barang2 ni)
Limpang = Baring (Kenapa kau limpang? = Kenapa kau baring?_
Daras = Over (Ee, darasnya dia tuh! = Ee, overnya dia tuh!)
Ijap = Takut (Eh mambari ijap bha! = Eh, bikin takut jer!)
Sasah = Cuci ( Sasah kan dulu pakaian tu = Cuci dulu pakaian tu)
Mengantak = Menjerang/Memasak ( Hantakkan dulu air tu = Masakkan dulu air tu)
Lai = Sayang (Apa tu lai? = Apa tu sayang?)
Mu’a = Muka (Kenapa Mu’anya muram? = Kenapa mukanya muram?)
Tarabah = Jatuh ( Sikit lagi aku tarabah tadi = Sikit lagi aku jatuh tadi)
Bajaur = Berjalan-jalan ( Tahan juga kau berjaur? = Tahan juga ko berjalan2?)
Cuik = Piring kecil (Plate)
Kudut = Piring Besar
Esbok = Peti Sejuk
Kurapak = Sembang
Ngalih = Penat
Sigup = rokok
Malabui = timbul
Gulayan = Sayuran
Batah = lama
Berinut = Berangkat (Berinut lah dulu kami = Berangkatlah dulu kami)
Mulih = Pulang/Balik (Bha, mulih tah kamu dulu = Balik lah kami dulu)
 ................................................

Other than that , basic word which used frequently are:
1- Bubut = kejar
2- Lusir = lari
3- Nyaman = sedap
4- Bisai = cantik,indah
5- Kamah = kotor
6- Carik = koyak
7- menyeluru = mengejek
8- Buyuk = tipu
9- Kudut =pinggan
10- Auw = iya
11- Buntak = pendek
12- Mengkalakari = menipu
13- Samak = semak
14- Licak = lembut
15- Piasau = kelapa
16- Kepala Tuhut = lutut
17- Mulih = balik
18- Berinut = minta diri
19- Limpas = lintas
20- Kampis = nipis
21- Sigup = rokok
22- Bangas = basi
23- Lakat = masih
24- Ingar = bising
25- Pelakian = boyfriend
26- Pebinian = girlfriend
27- Basing = tupai
28- Baie = babi
29- Kuyuk = anjing
30- Tekilala = kenal
31- Sikui = tembikai
32- Kepayas = betik
33- Ambuk = monyet
34- Dian = lilin
35- Bekarap = bekelip
36- Dandam = rindu
37- Semberana = cuai
38- Lagau = panggil
39- Bepanggil/Menitir = kenduri
40- Memapak = menguyah
41- Behibun = begurau
42- Menyasah = cuci kain
43- Pelacahan = parit
44- Bubut = kejar



All in all, by learning these words may help in communicating well with the Bruneians. After all, there is no harm in learning others language right? ;) Till meet again, xoxo


Mari Tah ke Brunei


Do you know what is meant by the title above?
In rough, it means 'Jom ke Brunei'/ 'Lets go to Brunei'.






Brunei is located between Malaysia (specifically between Miri, Limbang and Lawas in Sarawak).

The majority of Brunei’s people are Malays, but there are other minorities - Chinese, Indians and some indigenous tribes.

In terms of religion, there are Muslim 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10% . Islam is the official religion of Brunei.

The Monarchy in Brunei

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah 


Bruneians are proud to have centuries of royal heritage and to be the only remaining Malay Islamic Monarchy in the world. The Sultan of Brunei comes from a family line that dates back to 1405. In 1967 His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah was made the 29th ruler of Brunei and led the country’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1984.

Culture of Brunei

Brunei’s culture is similar to Malay culture - the language is Malay, the lifestyle, the customs and traditions, the beliefs- even the food is Malay in origin.

In short, these are the most famous things which indicate Brunei:

Dance : Alus Jua Dendang
It tells the story of meeting a bride and groom with a sense of joy at Majlis Malam Berambil-Ambilan.

Dance : Adai-Adai
In the past Song and Dance 'Adai-Adai' is presented by the fishermen when they went fishing and return from fishing. This dance depicts the joy, fatigue, and activity of the fishermen.

Gulintangan


Musical Instruments : Gulintangan
This is the most important and influential instrument in the orchestra. The orchestra will not work well without it; infact will no longer be called a gulintangan orchesta. Most of the time it determines when a song starts, ends or break. Gulintangan orchestra is played in ceremonies such weddings, official launching, awards ceremony, gatherings etc.






Village: Kampung Ayer (Water Village)
It was built entirely of stilt houses and wooden walkways, this cluster of 42 villages housing more than 30,000 inhabitants is the world's largest water village.
The Water Village is really made up of small villages linked together by 36 kilometers of boardwalks connect the buildings. The village is considered the largest stilt settlement in the world and has its own schools, mosques, police stations and fire brigade. People have lived in Kampong Ayer for over 1300 years.


Nurul Iman Palace


Palace: Istana Nurul Iman (Nurul Iman Palace)
Istana Nurul Iman is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei and his family, as well as the location of the senior government offices of the country. The palace is hosting the most important governmental bodies, including the office of Brunei’s prime-minister.

Istana Nurul Iman was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest living residence of a state head.

Indeed, it is the biggest palace and royal residence of the world. Istana Nurul Iman is a massive white construction with golden domes and minarets.




Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque


Mosque: Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque
It is located in Bandar Seri Begawan. It was built in an artificial lagoon on the banks of the Brunei River at Kampong Ayer- the "village in the water", the mosque has marble minarets and golden domes, a courtyard and is surrounded by a large number of trees and floral gardens. A bridge reaches across the lagoon to Kampong Ayer in the middle of the river.

At a cost of around 5 million USD, the Bruneian Sultan spared no expense: imported Italian marble pillars and floor, granite from Shanghai, crystal chandeliers from England, ornate carpets from Saudi Arabia and a main dome of pure gold that shines in the night sky.




Traditional food: Ambuyat
It is a dish derived from the interior trunk of the sago palm. It is a starchy bland substance, similar to tapioca starch. Ambuyat is a national dish of Brunei and become a local delicacy in the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah and also the federal territory of Labuan where it is sometimes known as linut.

Ambuyat is eaten with a bamboo fork called a chandas, by rolling the starch around the prongs and then dipping it into a sauce, of which there are many varieties.




kelupis

kelupis


Traditional food: Kelupis
Kelupis is literally translates to 'glutinous rice rolls' in English. It is a traditional kuih for the Bruneian Malay people in the country of Brunei and in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia.

Actually, there are muchhh more things about Brunei. This is the basic one which is a must for you to know about Brunei. Till then, xoxo

TEMIAR




Temiar is one of the groups that fall under Senoi ethnic. There are interesting beliefs of this group. Let's take a look on it!




KAREI

It is believed that a large and powerful creature who lives in the sky will be upset if they do evil and they will get disaster.


PENUNGGU

Temiar believes that places like pools, cascades, bays, caves, hills and mountains have the guardian. These places should be avoided and should not be disturbed. They are forbidden to criticize or say something in that place because they will be disturbed by the guardian of that place especially for the faint-hearted.


KAYU MERBAU

They believe that the core of merbau can hit and it might probably hit anyone that passing by there. Especially at dawn, sunset and during a hot day which there was a rainbow.


PANTANG HARIMAU

The meeting between two men who had promised to meet, the promise should be fulfilled. If one they break the promise, "Harimau Jelmaan" would come to disturb him.


FOREST FRUITS

Fruits in the forest must be harvested in a season with a ceremony which all people joined together to make a feast. If they break this rule, they will be disturbed by a tiger.

Orang Asli Ethnic Group


As has been mentioned in previous post, Orang Asli has been categorised into three ethnic. Here we provide the percentage of every ethnic of Orang Asli in Malaysia in 2011.



ORANG ASLI IN MALAYSIA

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE / ORANG ASLI


WHO IS ORANG ASLI?

The name "Orang Asli" means "original people" or "first people". They all live on the Peninsular of Malaysia. Nowadays there about 60.000 Orang Asli people, of which 60% still live in the rain forest. About 40% Orang Asli live along or near the coast. Each has its own language and culture, and perceives itself as different from the others. Linguistically, some of the northern Orang Asli groups speak languages, that suggest a historical link with the indigenous peoples in Burma, Thailand and Indo-China. 

They are classified into three groups:
  • Senoi
  • Orang Malayu Asli
  • Negrito

NegritoSenoiMalayu Asli
Kintaq
Lanok
Kensiu
Jahai
Mendriq
Bateq
Temiar
Semai
Mah Meri
Che Wong
Ja Hut
Semoq Beri
Orang Selatar
Jakun
Orang Kuala
Orang Kanaq
Temuan
Semelai

There is a lot of difference between those groups.  The name "Negrito" suggest, that these people come from Papua New Guinea or East Africa. They also have dark-skinned and frizzy-hair. Other groups of the Orang Asli are more light-skinned and have straight hair.
The Negrito's live in the North and North East of the Peninsular and mostly they live in the jungle. They are the semi-nomadic tribes of the Orang Asli. Only a few of them also live in urban areas and are engaged in both waged and salaried jobs.
It is thought that the Negrito's arrived in Malaya 8,000 years ago. Their forefathers were also hunters and gatherers who lived in caves and rock shelters. They knew the use of fire and cooked their food with the aid of crude instruments made from stone. They hunt for food and gather fruits as well as forest products for medical use. 

Many Senoi live in the Cameron Highlands. They just look like a real Malaysians, although the dark ones look like Negrito's. Originally they must have come from the hills in Vietnam, Cambodia or Northern Thailand, about 6000 - 8000 years ago
In the highlands the Senoi live as wage-earners, working on the highland tea estates. Others you can see in the streets of Kuala Lumpur in jeans and a T-shirt. They have obtained jobs as varied as government employees and taxi drivers
When you have left the highway you'll see a sign with "Orang Asli" village on it. 

Slavery 

Slave raids into Orang Asli settlements were not an uncommon feature in the 18th and 19th centuries. The slave-raiders were mainly Malays and Bataks, who considered the Orang Asli as 'kafirs', 'non-humans', 'savages' and 'jungle-beasts.'
The modus operandi was basically to swoop down on a settlement and kill off all the adult men. Women and children were preferred as they were less likely to run away and were 'easier to tame.' The Orang Asli slaves were sold off or given to local rulers and chieftains to gain their favour.
A considerable trade in slaves thus soon developed - and even continued into the present century despite the official abolition of all forms of slavery in 1884. In fact, the derogatory term Sakai used to refer to the Orang Asli until the middle of this century meant slave or dependent. Many elders still remember this sad period of their history, and all Orang Asli detest being called Sakai. 

Specimens and Souls 

The coming of the British administrators led to some outcry against the slavery of the Orang Asli, but there were no efforts to promote their welfare. Because of their 'primitiveness' and their 'uncivilized culture', Orang Asli were regarded as excellent subjects for anthropological research. That the Orang Asli were seen so can be gleaned from the fact that the earliest official act directed towards the Orang Asli was the setting up of the Perak Museum in Taiping, from where research into Orang Asli demography and ethnography was to be carried out.
Also, being regarded as 'uncivilized' and therefore, it follows, 'unsaved', placed the Orang Asli in good light for the zeal of missionary proselytizers. The Catholics began their missionary activities among the Temuans in the middle of the 19th Century. The Methodists started theirs in the 1930s. Bahai missionaries also had a following in the 1960s while Muslim missionary work became increasingly more active over the last two decades.
Interest in the Orang Asli therefore tended to revolve around their usefulness as anthropological curiosities or as convenient subjects for proselytization. Otherwise, the official attitude towards the Orang Asli was one of indifference.

Protection 

Until the late 1940s, there was no specific administration for the Orang Asli, but it became regarded as a responsibility of the Taiping Museum Curator to concern himself with research among Orang Asli in Perak. The Orang Asli continued to be regarded as noble savages, leading an idealized and romantic existence; the task of government was to protect and preserve them from the ravages of modern life.A rather detailed 1936 report by H.D. Noone, then the field ethnographer (and later, Director) of the Perak Museum at Taiping, sought to perpetuate the view of the British colonialists that the Orang Asli should remain in isolation from the rest of the Malayan population, and be given protection.Noone called for the establishment of large aboriginal land reservations where the Orang Asli would be free to live according to their own tradition and laws. Noone also proposed the creation of "patterned settlements" in less accessible areas, where the Orang Asli could be taught agricultural skills.  He also sought the encouragement and development of aboriginal arts and crafts, and the creation of other forms of employment among the Orang Asli.  Several protective measures were also proposed, such as the banning of alcohol in Orang Asli reserves and the controlled peddling of wares.Although not implemented by the government of the day, his 'Proposed Aboriginal Policy' did however lay the groundwork for future government policy towards the Orang Asli.

KRISTANG Part 2

Basically, we already know in the surface what is Serani.

Now, we will dive more in their culture to know them better.

First, how do you want to know if the person is a serani?

1) Through their names? Such as de costa, de silva, gomez, fernandes, dias, cruz etc. 
Reknowned Serani people are Tun Jeanne Abdullah  aka Jeanne Danker ( Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's wife), Tony Fernandes (CEO of AirAsia ) and Hans Isaac (actor).

2) The way they speak. People brought up in the Portuguese Settlement have their own slang.

Language. 
They do have their own language.
It is called Kristang. 




How about the festival they celebrate?
They do celebrate festivals as follow:


1) Intrudo
It is also known as Water Day. People splash water on everybody and no one in sight is spared a drenching. It is celebrated on Sunday.



2) San Pedro Festival
It is celebrated on 29 June in honour of St Peter, the patron saint of fishermen. It is celebrated with a carnival, decorative boats, folk dancing and a delicious array of typical Cristang food .



3)San Juang Festival
 This festival is celebrated on the evening of 23 June with the lighting of candles along the pathway leading to the entrance of the house. Children and adults wear green garments. Canje Mungoo, a  sweet porridge made from mung beans and sweetened with gula melaka and coconut milk is served throughout the day.


Canje Mungoo

4)Christmas
 It is a time of feasting and family reunion. This is the time when traditional Cristang cuisine is at its peak. Age old recipes such as bolu, agar-agar, sersagung etc are brought out.



Significantly, its been 500 years,yet, they still maintain their tradition and culture. There will no end when talking about this interesting ethnic.We hope that we could explore more on their culture later. 
Till we meet then... Daaa...