The Unique Orang Seletar

I have been ignorant of the Orang Laut Seletar of Johor, although I had known of the orang laut or sea gypsies of Semporna (Sabah), having had the opportunity to meet them during the Regatta Lepa in 2011 and 2012. It was certainly a privilege to get to meet the Orang Seletar recently. These unique and proud people were brought all the way from their village of Kampung Sungai Temun to the KLGCC for the launch of a book about them. Although it was a very short meeting, yet their charm and friendliness was most obvious. I hope I will have the chance to meet them again in their kampung in Johor.

The Orang Seletar performing at a book (about them) launch

Perusing through the newly launched book* about the Orang Seletar, I find information and facts that I need to set down (verbatim) in this blog entry to remind me about their history and origins, and make me much more aware of their current social conditions; of their "fragile and vulnerable position ... in their quest for survival and livelihood amidst a wider region of rapid progress and economic prosperity ... " (of Iskandar Malaysia).

"History reveals that they had a glorious past as an important societal component of the Malay sea world, patroned by the powerful Malay Sultanate in the Riau-Lingga area. These sea gypsies originated within Nusantara, the Malay ethnic territory that encompasses a vast geographical region that includes what is now Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, parts of Hawaii, New Zealand, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Southern Thailand and other countries of the Asia-Pacific."

"Early historical records prove that the Orang Seletar were originally from Singapura (which since the late 16th century had belonged to Johor), from an area called Seletar, where they served the Johor royal family as hunters, trackers and able seamen. Pulau Seletar was their 'docking' grounds whenever they needed to come ashore. But in the 1960s, due to various restrictions imposed on them by the Singapore authorities - especially with regard to their movements in the territorial waters - they were invited by the then Johor Sultan, HRH the late Sultan Ismail, to migrate to Johor. They have called the Straits of Tebrau their home ever since."

"However, looking at these peace loving aborigine communities existing as they do in the present day, with their placid, indolent way of life, living under primitive and very poor conditions, marginalised and underprivileged characterised by poverty, low-levels of education and health, we would indeed find it very difficult to identify them with their dynamic historical past and civilisation. They are together with other Orang Asli in Malaysia, the poorest and the most marginalised and underprivileged group in Malaysian society."

"The Orang Seletar of Johor are a small subgroup within the indigenous ethnic minority group in Malaysia, the Orang Asli. While most Orang Asli are known to be forest dwellers, the Orang Seletar are traditionally seafarers and have, for generations, lived on boats and thrived off the sea. They have always been fishermen and, to this day make a living from marine produce. The clean water of the sea (and the riverine mangrove swamps) provides not only their main source of livelihood but also forms a central basis for their sense of identity, 'sense of space and place' and culture."

The Orang Seletar and water cannot be parted

The Orang Seletar community inhabit eight villages in the Johor Bahru district within a 25 km radius of Johor Bahru city. According to the 2008 figures of the Department of Orang Asli Affairs, their population of slightly more than 1,700 people and about 370 heads of households live in eight kampungs (Kg); Kg Simpang Arang, Kg Bakar Batu, Kg Sungai Temun, Kg Teluk Jawa, Kg Pasir Putih, Kg Kuala Masai, Kg Teluk Kabung and Kg Pasir Pasir Salam.

Some Orang Seletar youth at the KLGCC

The culture of the Orang Seletar is steeped in animism, although there are among them who have converted to Islam, Christianity, or Buddhism. Their ties with the water and nature begins even at birth, when the placenta of a newborn is wrapped and hung among the mangroves (see the first picture in this blog post, taken from the same book mentioned above).

 JAKOA officer, Penel & me with the Orang Seletar after
the book launch at KLGCC

Note: The Orang Asli (Original or Indigenous Peoples) of Malaysia (JAKOA/Dept of OA Devt.)
1. Negrito/Semang (North): Kintak, Kinsiu, Jahai, Mendriq, Bateq, Lanoh
2. Senoi (Central): Temiar, Semai, Che Wong, Jahut, Semoq Beri, Mah Meri
3. Proto Malay: (South): Seletar, Kuala, Kanaq, Jakun, Semelai, Temuan

*Ref: My personal journey in observing the dynamic Iskandar Malaysia and its forgotten sea gypsies; economic development contradictions and cultural change/ Jamilah  Ariffin. iRESOLVE (International Research Institute for Economic Progress and Social Well-being), 2014.  Ex Libris CNB 2048