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convenience and necessity. They do not traditionally have any form of social hierarchy, and with the absence of headmen, each individual has his own autonomy in
making decisions on daily matters. Disputes are settled through amicable negotiations or public discussion, and individuals who are not on friendly terms with one
another can join different social groups. The Senoi live in settlements of up to 200
people, usually located near a stream or river. They usually live in one area for few
years before moving to family homes built around a long house, known as the balai
sewang, which serves as a community meeting place. Their dwellings are made of
bamboo, wood bark and thatch. The Senoi live in semi-permanent settlements, moving on from one place to another as they practised slash-and-burn agriculture
(Masron et al. 2013). As for Proto-Malays, the Jakun and Temuan sub-tribes have
similar lifestyle with the Senoi and live in the interior, while the Orang Kanaq,
Kuala and Seletar people live along coastlines, exploiting the maritime resources.
One of the important aspects of research regarding the Orang Asli is their
religion. Their belief system revolves around spirits which dwell in animate and
inanimate objects (Masron et al. 2013). Most Semang sub-tribes perceive the world
as a disk placed at the back of a snake, with trees and flowers growing abundantly
in paradise above, which is connected to the living world by stone pillars. They
believe in the existence of immortal things living in the stone pillar below the earth.
They were once humans and occasionally appear in people’s dreams. The occurrence
of natural phenomena, such as wind, rain, thunder etc. is believed to be related to the
spirits’ powers. These supernatural beings include the Thunder God, Grandmother
of the Underworld and the Snake of the Underworld. The shaman is the medium
through which humans can communicate with the supernatural world. They are
known as the Halak, who presides over religious ceremonies (Carey 1970). Their
view about life after death involves the soul linger around as malevolent spirits
before eventually departing to an afterlife in the western horizon. They bury their
dead in shallow graves (Skeat 1902), conducting rituals to protect the living from
the spirits of their departed.
The Senoi take great efforts to make offerings to appease spirits and gods, and
practising taboos as they viewed mankind as vulnerable. Communication with the
supernatural, especially to cure illness in the temporal world, is done through
dreams and trances in ceremonies that may easily last up to six nights. The Senoi
bury their dead with their possessions but, unlike the Semang, they do not have clear
idea about the afterlife. They believe that human beings have a few souls, including
those which may be malevolent spirits capable of harming others. The mourning
may last for an entire month and involves elaborate ceremonies.
For Proto-Malays, their beliefs, too, revolve around gods and ancestors. The
Temuan believe they were placed on the earth to assume a sacred duty of protecting
the rainforest. For them, every inanimate object contains a guardian spirit, while
rivers are guarded by snakes and dragons. Their rituals include practising magic and
spiritual ceremonies, taboos and healing. Their healers and shamans will lead an
annual rite to appease their ancestors and guardian spirits (Sam 2015; Masron
et al. 2013).
A Multidisciplinary Account of the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia
convenience and necessity. They do not traditionally have any form of social hierarchy, and with the absence of headmen, each individual has his own autonomy in
making decisions on daily matters. Disputes are settled through amicable negotiations or public discussion, and individuals who are not on friendly terms with one
another can join different social groups. The Senoi live in settlements of up to 200
people, usually located near a stream or river. They usually live in one area for few
years before moving to family homes built around a long house, known as the balai
sewang, which serves as a community meeting place. Their dwellings are made of
bamboo, wood bark and thatch. The Senoi live in semi-permanent settlements, moving on from one place to another as they practised slash-and-burn agriculture
(Masron et al. 2013). As for Proto-Malays, the Jakun and Temuan sub-tribes have
similar lifestyle with the Senoi and live in the interior, while the Orang Kanaq,
Kuala and Seletar people live along coastlines, exploiting the maritime resources.
One of the important aspects of research regarding the Orang Asli is their
religion. Their belief system revolves around spirits which dwell in animate and
inanimate objects (Masron et al. 2013). Most Semang sub-tribes perceive the world
as a disk placed at the back of a snake, with trees and flowers growing abundantly
in paradise above, which is connected to the living world by stone pillars. They
believe in the existence of immortal things living in the stone pillar below the earth.
They were once humans and occasionally appear in people’s dreams. The occurrence
of natural phenomena, such as wind, rain, thunder etc. is believed to be related to the
spirits’ powers. These supernatural beings include the Thunder God, Grandmother
of the Underworld and the Snake of the Underworld. The shaman is the medium
through which humans can communicate with the supernatural world. They are
known as the Halak, who presides over religious ceremonies (Carey 1970). Their
view about life after death involves the soul linger around as malevolent spirits
before eventually departing to an afterlife in the western horizon. They bury their
dead in shallow graves (Skeat 1902), conducting rituals to protect the living from
the spirits of their departed.
The Senoi take great efforts to make offerings to appease spirits and gods, and
practising taboos as they viewed mankind as vulnerable. Communication with the
supernatural, especially to cure illness in the temporal world, is done through
dreams and trances in ceremonies that may easily last up to six nights. The Senoi
bury their dead with their possessions but, unlike the Semang, they do not have clear
idea about the afterlife. They believe that human beings have a few souls, including
those which may be malevolent spirits capable of harming others. The mourning
may last for an entire month and involves elaborate ceremonies.
For Proto-Malays, their beliefs, too, revolve around gods and ancestors. The
Temuan believe they were placed on the earth to assume a sacred duty of protecting
the rainforest. For them, every inanimate object contains a guardian spirit, while
rivers are guarded by snakes and dragons. Their rituals include practising magic and
spiritual ceremonies, taboos and healing. Their healers and shamans will lead an
annual rite to appease their ancestors and guardian spirits (Sam 2015; Masron
et al. 2013).
A Multidisciplinary Account of the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia