64
photographs and taking notes on resource utilisation through direct interviews and
fieldwork. Forest visits were conducted concurrently with the onset of fruiting or
flowering seasons of those particular plants. The documentation was mostly based
in Kuala Koh, Kelantan, and each visit was conducted opportunistically by following the Bateq in their foraging activities. Some of the plant resources were also
available in the forests of Kenyir and used by both tribes. The utilisation of plant
resources was confirmed with Semoq Beri villagers in Kampung Sungai Berua and
Kuala Koh. The plant species were identified in situ if possible, but further identification was confirmed by referring to Kiew et al. (2011, 2012, 2013) and an online
database provided by the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), the
Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS 2015). Only selected examples
of minor plant resources were presented here as an effort to highlight how the Bateq
and Semoq Beri relied on these minor forest resources.
Dependency of Orang Asli on Forest Resources
Although indigenous community resettlement were gaining momentum and being
enforced by the government of Malaysia, the dependency of the indigenous community on forests, their ecosystem and resources was still strong. This was not only
supported by the observations in this study, but other studies as well (Amjad et al.
2017; Khaled et al. 2016; Rasethe et al. 2013). The forests were vital to the lives of
indigenous people, and they were not only in terms of harvesting tangible products
like gaharu (agarwood), rattan and animals for trade and consumption. They also
carried intangible benefits that sustained the existence of the Orang Asli culture,
heritage and lifestyle (Abdul-Hamid and Gan Christopher 2012). Although facilities
provided in villages were adequate in supporting their basic needs, their connection
with the forests still remained strong. A study conducted in their resettlement areas
indicated that the majority of the Orang Asli still preferred to return and spend time
in the forests (Jamalunlaili et al. 2016).
Because of their strong dependency on forests, issues related to the Orang Asli
were usually ignored. Legally, the indigenous communities of Malaysia had the
right to collect minor forest products for their own utilisation through the Aboriginal
Peoples Act 1954, but this permission was regulated by the Forestry Act 1935,
whereby the Forestry Department would monitor their collection activities. This
was meant to avoid manipulation of the Orang Asli by outsiders and prevent the
over-collection of forest resources.
Utilisation of Forest Resources by the Bateq and Semoq Beri
Bateq and Semoq Beri tribes utilised forest resources for food, water and medicinal
herbs, besides making ornaments and handicraft (Table 1). Few examples of fruits
used by the Bateq and Semoq Beri were wild variants of domesticated fruits, such
J. Mohd Salim et al.
photographs and taking notes on resource utilisation through direct interviews and
fieldwork. Forest visits were conducted concurrently with the onset of fruiting or
flowering seasons of those particular plants. The documentation was mostly based
in Kuala Koh, Kelantan, and each visit was conducted opportunistically by following the Bateq in their foraging activities. Some of the plant resources were also
available in the forests of Kenyir and used by both tribes. The utilisation of plant
resources was confirmed with Semoq Beri villagers in Kampung Sungai Berua and
Kuala Koh. The plant species were identified in situ if possible, but further identification was confirmed by referring to Kiew et al. (2011, 2012, 2013) and an online
database provided by the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), the
Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS 2015). Only selected examples
of minor plant resources were presented here as an effort to highlight how the Bateq
and Semoq Beri relied on these minor forest resources.
Dependency of Orang Asli on Forest Resources
Although indigenous community resettlement were gaining momentum and being
enforced by the government of Malaysia, the dependency of the indigenous community on forests, their ecosystem and resources was still strong. This was not only
supported by the observations in this study, but other studies as well (Amjad et al.
2017; Khaled et al. 2016; Rasethe et al. 2013). The forests were vital to the lives of
indigenous people, and they were not only in terms of harvesting tangible products
like gaharu (agarwood), rattan and animals for trade and consumption. They also
carried intangible benefits that sustained the existence of the Orang Asli culture,
heritage and lifestyle (Abdul-Hamid and Gan Christopher 2012). Although facilities
provided in villages were adequate in supporting their basic needs, their connection
with the forests still remained strong. A study conducted in their resettlement areas
indicated that the majority of the Orang Asli still preferred to return and spend time
in the forests (Jamalunlaili et al. 2016).
Because of their strong dependency on forests, issues related to the Orang Asli
were usually ignored. Legally, the indigenous communities of Malaysia had the
right to collect minor forest products for their own utilisation through the Aboriginal
Peoples Act 1954, but this permission was regulated by the Forestry Act 1935,
whereby the Forestry Department would monitor their collection activities. This
was meant to avoid manipulation of the Orang Asli by outsiders and prevent the
over-collection of forest resources.
Utilisation of Forest Resources by the Bateq and Semoq Beri
Bateq and Semoq Beri tribes utilised forest resources for food, water and medicinal
herbs, besides making ornaments and handicraft (Table 1). Few examples of fruits
used by the Bateq and Semoq Beri were wild variants of domesticated fruits, such
J. Mohd Salim et al.