Orang Asli of Tasik Chini

Tasik Chini or Lake Chini, widely known among Malaysian and foreign tourist, is Malaysia’s second largest natural freshwater lake. The Jakun subgroup of Orang Asli community has a population of 478 people and 82 households, who mainly lived in the lake area for generations. Although the lake is widely known, there is little knowledge about the culture and lifestyles of this community.

During the ceremony of laying the stone foundation for Tasik Chini Research Centre Complex, on January 19, 2008, the Jakun community of Tasik Chini exhibited its interesting handicrafts, culture and lifestyle. During the exhibition, the Jakun daily life showed their economic activity, villages and infrastructure displayed as posters. 

Traditional hunting tools such as sumpitan (blowpipes) and basket were exhibited, together with their traditional necklaces or rantai nyelai made of nyelai fruit and coconut shells. New products such as handicrafts which are made of the aquatic weed, Cabomba sp, kercut grass and traditional home made oil, minyak sapu were displayed. The kercut grass, grown wild in the lake, has been used by the Jakun to make handmade items such as lamps, pictures frame, bookmarks, gift trays and boxes. 

The kercut project was initiated with assistance from Tasik Chini Research Center (PPTC) researchers, and this has spearheaded a new form of income generating activities to the community in particular among the women folks. As for the minyak sapu, it is made from mixtures of herbs and leeches, which can be used to cure sprained ankle. Both activities have helped the community improve their entrepreneurial skills. 

The day did not just focus on the exhibition per se. Three Orang Asli volunteers from Kg. Gumum, Kg. Tanjung. Puput and Kg. Cendahan have highlighted the event by their live demonstration of basket making, fish trap (bubu), blowpipes and mats. It was later enhanced by a Sewang performance by Jakun school children from Sekolah Kebangsaan Tasik Chini. The children brought the song of the ‘Mysterious Dragon’ that expressed the inspiration and hope of the Jakun community to YAB Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak (Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia), who was the guest of honour who officiated the opening ceremony. 

For further correspondence kindly contact: 

Professor Dato' Dr. Mushrifah Idris; 
Zanizah; 
Mustapha Omar 
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 43600 UKM Bangi, 
Selangor, MALAYSIA 
Tel: 603-89216227 
Email: mush@ukm.my