Orang Asli culture showcased alongside 46th Asean Summit
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) aims to foster stronger connections between the Orang Asli and mainstream society, promoting greater inclusion and appreciation of their unique heritage to build a more united and understanding community.
Jakoa's Culture and Heritage Section under the Planning and Research Division assistant director Zarina Razlan said the department was invited by the Foreign Ministry to take part in the exhibition held alongside the 46th Asean Summit, with the aim of showcasing the distinct cultural heritage of the Orang Asli to the wider Asean audience.
"My hope for this event is that mainstream society will work together with us to bridge the gap between the Orang Asli and the broader community.
"The Orang Asli have immense potential and talent; they just need the opportunity to shine," she told the media during the exhibition and sales showcase held in conjunction with the 46th Asean Summit here.
Zarina said the booth features various traditional arts and cultural heritage, including blowpipe and weaving demonstrations, traditional dances, as well as interactive games for visitors to participate in.
She said Jakoa is committed to supporting the welfare of Orang Asli students by providing scholarships, medical assistance, school transportation, pocket money, and other forms of aid.
"Our aim is to help integrate them into mainstream society, for example, some have even been invited to become flight attendants.
"Jakoa has done a lot in this regard," she said.
Another handicraft booth featured at the event is from the Prisons Department, which displays a variety of fabrics including tenun (woven textiles), batik, songket, and other handcrafted items created by the inmates.
Sergeant Norfarhana Othman, an officer from Kajang Prison said the department also offers popular festive treats such as cookies, rempeyek (crispy peanut crackers), and ceramics.
"For the Asean segment, we aim to highlight woven textiles, particularly royal fabrics, as these are the main items we want to showcase," she said.
Also taking part in the event is Huey Sy, founder of Hueysybags, who has created a special limited-edition range of bags for the Asean Summit.
Huey hopes the event will help showcase the remarkable craftsmanship of Malaysian artisans to a wider audience.
She said although she has received many requests to export her bags abroad, the handcrafted nature of her products restricts the volume she can produce.
"There is a real demand internationally for handmade crafts from Malaysia, but scaling up remains a challenge due to logistical costs," she said.
Huey said taking part in the Asean exhibition highlights a broader goal of showcasing Malaysian talent and cultural heritage.
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