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Introduction
In Peninsular Malaysia, the indigenous people are a minority known as the Orang
Asli. They are made up of three major tribes (Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Malay)
divided into 18 sub-tribes (Carey 1976), and their history may be traced back to at
least 25,000 years (Nicholas 2000). The Orang Asli have been called the “first people” or “original people” of Malaysia. Across the peninsula, all sub-tribes partake in
similar activities in their daily lives, which include hunting, foraging and gathering
forest resources (Rambo 1979).
Being primarily forest-dependent people, the Orang Asli are nomadic and seminomadic, acquiring various resources in and around tropical forests (Kuchikura
1986). Their high dependency on forest resources and products has been widely
studied, particularly among the Semoq Beri and Batek communities (Ramle et al.
2014a; Tuck-Po 1998). Historically being land-security dependent and unaccustomed to cash economies, coupled with the lack of education and intermediate technology, these are likely reasons for their high dependence on forest resources for
generations. Failure to fully assimilate into contemporary economic systems has
resulted in them being plagued by perennial poverty. Recently, based on the report
by the United Nations Development Programme, around 34% of the Orang Asli
households lived in poverty (Balakrishnan 2016). Previous studies on forest resource
utilisation by the Orang Asli have been conducted in the west coast of Peninsular
Malaysia involving the Jah Hut, Semelai, Lanoh, Temiar, Temuan and Semang subtribes (Yahaya 2015; Milow et al. 2013; Azliza et al. 2012; Ong et al. 2012a, b;
Howell et al. 2010; Samuel et al. 2010). However, hardly any study has documented
Orang Asli communities living in the east coast. The sub-tribes mainly found in east
coast states of Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu are the Semoq Beri and Batek.
Based on what we know on the resources used by the Orang Asli, they harvested
a variety of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) from terrestrial and aquatic sources
(Arnold and Ruiz 1996). According to Burkill (1935), the Malayan rainforest contained more than 1700 species of plants and animals that have more than 5000 uses.
Examples of NTFPs harvested in Peninsular Malaysia include agarwood, rattan,
honey, bamboo, fruits and a variety of herbs, besides bushmeat like deer, porcupine
and wild boar. Apart from using NTFPs for medicinal purposes, the Orang Asli also
heavily relied on them for subsistence and materials for building their houses. In
recent times, the Orang Asli have begun to harvest NTFPs in exchange for cash to
purchase daily necessities. For instance, Jah Hut communities derived income from
selling NTFPs, such as bamboo, fruits, vegetables, rattan and agarwood (Howell
et al. 2010). In addition, NTFPs are increasingly being used by the Orang Asli as
ornaments, like chenille plants (Acalypha hispida) and ferns (Asparagus africanus)
(Milow et al. 2013).
The Orang Asli use a number of plant species for medicinal purposes. Recent
ethnobotanical studies in Peninsular Malaysia indicated that the Orang Asli utilised
more than 200 plants to treat illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes, stomachache,
diarrhoea and fever (Azliza et al. 2012; Ong et al. 2012a, b; Samuel et al. 2010;
C. V. Bartholomew et al.
Introduction
In Peninsular Malaysia, the indigenous people are a minority known as the Orang
Asli. They are made up of three major tribes (Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Malay)
divided into 18 sub-tribes (Carey 1976), and their history may be traced back to at
least 25,000 years (Nicholas 2000). The Orang Asli have been called the “first people” or “original people” of Malaysia. Across the peninsula, all sub-tribes partake in
similar activities in their daily lives, which include hunting, foraging and gathering
forest resources (Rambo 1979).
Being primarily forest-dependent people, the Orang Asli are nomadic and seminomadic, acquiring various resources in and around tropical forests (Kuchikura
1986). Their high dependency on forest resources and products has been widely
studied, particularly among the Semoq Beri and Batek communities (Ramle et al.
2014a; Tuck-Po 1998). Historically being land-security dependent and unaccustomed to cash economies, coupled with the lack of education and intermediate technology, these are likely reasons for their high dependence on forest resources for
generations. Failure to fully assimilate into contemporary economic systems has
resulted in them being plagued by perennial poverty. Recently, based on the report
by the United Nations Development Programme, around 34% of the Orang Asli
households lived in poverty (Balakrishnan 2016). Previous studies on forest resource
utilisation by the Orang Asli have been conducted in the west coast of Peninsular
Malaysia involving the Jah Hut, Semelai, Lanoh, Temiar, Temuan and Semang subtribes (Yahaya 2015; Milow et al. 2013; Azliza et al. 2012; Ong et al. 2012a, b;
Howell et al. 2010; Samuel et al. 2010). However, hardly any study has documented
Orang Asli communities living in the east coast. The sub-tribes mainly found in east
coast states of Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu are the Semoq Beri and Batek.
Based on what we know on the resources used by the Orang Asli, they harvested
a variety of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) from terrestrial and aquatic sources
(Arnold and Ruiz 1996). According to Burkill (1935), the Malayan rainforest contained more than 1700 species of plants and animals that have more than 5000 uses.
Examples of NTFPs harvested in Peninsular Malaysia include agarwood, rattan,
honey, bamboo, fruits and a variety of herbs, besides bushmeat like deer, porcupine
and wild boar. Apart from using NTFPs for medicinal purposes, the Orang Asli also
heavily relied on them for subsistence and materials for building their houses. In
recent times, the Orang Asli have begun to harvest NTFPs in exchange for cash to
purchase daily necessities. For instance, Jah Hut communities derived income from
selling NTFPs, such as bamboo, fruits, vegetables, rattan and agarwood (Howell
et al. 2010). In addition, NTFPs are increasingly being used by the Orang Asli as
ornaments, like chenille plants (Acalypha hispida) and ferns (Asparagus africanus)
(Milow et al. 2013).
The Orang Asli use a number of plant species for medicinal purposes. Recent
ethnobotanical studies in Peninsular Malaysia indicated that the Orang Asli utilised
more than 200 plants to treat illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes, stomachache,
diarrhoea and fever (Azliza et al. 2012; Ong et al. 2012a, b; Samuel et al. 2010;
C. V. Bartholomew et al.