3.0 Counseling: Visit to ‘Muzium Orang Asli Gombak’

Cross-Cultural Trip to ‘Muzium Orang Asli Gombak’

Orang Asli Museum History started in year 1987 at an old wooden building which was the officioal residence of former Director of Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA). Later in year 1995 (end of 6^th Malaysian Plan) the JHEO official built a new brick museum at cost of RM 3.5million. It was completed and hand-over to the JHEOA on 19 June 1998. The museum was officiated by the 11^th Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Alhaj on 02 March 2000 and was known as the Orang Asli Museum.

Objectives:

• 1.     To document the past of the Orang Asli as part of history.
• 2.     To collect all objects and material significant to the culture and life of the Orang Asli from various tribes in Peninsular Malaysia for future generation.
• 3.     As source of research, ancient customs and tradition.

What about them?

i)                Considered as to be part of natives of this country.

ii)              Population is approximately 171, 193 and they are divided into three main tribes which are Negrito, Senoi and the Proto-Malays (Aboriginal Malays).

iii)       Each tribe divided into 6 smaller tribes and speak different dialect, apart from the local Malay dialect

                                

Negrito	Senoi	Melayu Asli Proto-Malays
Kensiu	Temiar	Temuan
Kintaq	Semai	Semelai
Lanoh	Semoq Beri	Jakun
Jahai	Che Wong	Orang Kanaq
Mandriq	Jah Hut	Orang Kuala
Bateq	Mah Meri	Orang Seletar

Wood Carving and Crafts

Wood carving and crafts are the products of the Orang Asli creativity based on nature and their beliefs, especially in weaving of mengkuang and pandan leaves, bamboo and cane. In wood carving, all creation depend on imagination and dream that depict good or evil forces which are related to their believes and lifestyle.

In my opinion, learn about history is important because it allows us to understand our past, which in turn allows to understand our present. If we want to know how and why our world is the way it is today, we have to look to history for answers. People often say that “history repeats itself,” but if we study the successes and failures of the past, we may, ideally, be able to learn from our mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future. Studying history can provide us with insight into our cultures of origin as well as cultures with which we might be less familiar, thereby increasing cross-cultural awareness and understanding.