Temuan tribe dancers in Kampung Orang Asli Kelinsing dressed in clothes made from tree bark performing during the Orang Asli Day celebration in their village.
RESIDENTS from three Orang Asli villages in Dengkil, Selangor, gathered at Kampung Orang Asli Kelinsing to celebrate Orang Asli Day.
About 300 villagers from the villages of Kelinsing, Jambu and Bakok who are of the Temuan ethnic group, came together to showcase their culture and tradition.
The celebration on Aug 20 was to mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples that fell on Aug 9.
Among the guests were Selangor tourism, environment, green technology and Orang Asli affairs committee chairman Hee Loy Sian, Sungai Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu, Sepang Municipal councillors Gun Chee Hui and Kenneth Lee Kan Ming, and several social media influencers.
Head of the three villages, Rosmaini Baat said the celebrations this year were a grand affair as they had guests.
He said the event’s objective was to showcase and celebrate the Orang Asli culture.
“Traditionally, we celebrate Hari Moyang with a ritual to appease our ancestors.
“But this international day celebration is to enable others to appreciate our existence and contributions, where we showcase our activities, handicrafts, culture and traditions,” he said.
At the event, Hee announced that the state government had approved several financial allocations under next year’s budget for the Orang Asli community.
All 54 village chiefs called tok batin and Orang Asli Development and Safety Committee (JPKKOA) chairmen from the 74 Orang Asli villages in Selangor, he said, would receive an additional RM600 monthly allowance on top of the RM900 given by the Federal Government, to match the minimum wage of RM1,500.
He said that some small villages had combined under one village chief.
“The JPKKOA secretaries will receive a RM250 monthly allowance.
“The state also approved a RM10,000 annual grant for each village from next year,” he disclosed.
On the progress of gazetting Orang Asli ancestral land, Hee said 40% of land matters were still pending due to overlapping of land with individuals and private companies.
He added that the state hoped to resolve this through land swap or land acquisition.
All guests at the event were given weaved accessories made by the villagers, such as crowns, sash and brooches as welcome gift.
They were treated to traditional song and performances by dancers wearing clothes made from tree bark and leaves.
Several booths featured the intricate woven native crafts, from fashion accessories such as bangles, rings and necklaces to decorative ornaments, as well as a demonstration of craftmaking.
There were also booths selling wood sculptures and produce grown by the Orang Asli as well as dishes they cooked.
Temuan tribe dancers in Kampung Orang Asli Kelinsing dressed in clothes made from tree bark performing during the Orang Asli Day celebration in their village.
A social media influencer who was invited to the Orang Asli Day celebrations at Kampung Orang Asli Kelinsing taking photographs at the celebration.
