The Jakun People

Disclaimer

To avoid providing inaccurate information of the Orang Asli Jakun Tribe, we did not include their sociocultural practices and taboos. Should you have additional information about the Jakun Tribe, please feel free to share them with us at the Contact Us page.

the Orang Asli

The indigenous people in Peninsular Malaysia were the first to settle in this land since about 5000 years ago. They were believed to have migrated from China and Tibet through the mainland of Southeast Asia before permanently living in the Peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian archipelago [1].

The Orang Asli, transliterates as ‘original people’ or ‘first people’ [2], is not a homogenous group [3]. It is a collective term introduced by anthropologists and administrators for the 18 sub-ethnic groups [1]. These sub-ethnic groups are classified as Negrito, Senoi and Aboriginal Malay (Melayu Proto) [4].

Retrived from https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Jakun_people

Retrived from MalaysiaKini at https://www.malaysiakini.com/hiburan/472489

the Jakun Tribe

The Jakun tribe (properly known as Orang Ulu), is classified under Aboriginal Malay, or also known as suku kaum Melayu Asli [5]. This tribe is originated from Yunan (South China) and migrated to Peninsular Malaysia 5000 years ago [6]. Their settlement is spread across the present-day states of Johor and Pahang [7]. Some located settlements include:

Kampung Sayong Pinang, Kota Tinggi, Johor
Kampung Semangar, Kota Tinggi, Johor
Kampung Pasir Intan, Kota Tinggi, Johor
Kampung Peta, Endau-Rompin National Park, Johor [4, 8]
Kampung Batu 10, Gunung Arong, Mersing, Johor
Bekok, Segamat, Johor
Kampung Cendahan, Tasik Chini, Pekan, Pahang [9]
Kampung Buluh Nipis, Muadzam Shah, Kuantan, Pahang [10]
Kampung Langkap, Rompin, Pahang
Kampung Batu Tiga, Rompin, Pahang

Until today, most of the Jakun people still practice animism. They believe in the spirit of nature such as mountains, rivers and caves. They also perceive disasters in their village as caused by breaching the rules of nature [10]. They have dedicated their lives to nature and thus living in the jungles are a luxury to them [11].

A depiction of a traditional Jakun House in an Orang Asli Museum at Ayer Keroh, Melaka (Retrieved from https://www.malaysia-traveller.com/Orang-Asli-Museum-Ayer-Keroh.html)

Have you ever used 'Jakun' as a slur?
S T O P !

The word 'Jakun' is often misused to describe oneself or other people as 'being overly fascinated' [12]. Little do they know that Jakun is an indigenous tribe in Peninsular Malaysia.

A similar pejorative is 'Sakai', which is also misused as an insult to people. Sakai is another indigenous tribe that became a victim of such slurs [12].

Using those words to make fun of people would connotate the indigenous people from those tribes as an inferior group, whereas they deserve the same amount of respect as we do.

Be mindful of what you say!

Jakun. Sakai. Keling. Stop Using These Racial Slurs!

Video made by SAYS and presented by Nandini Balakrishnan

#AWANIXtra : Kenali kaum Orang Asli Jakun

Video credited to Astro Awani

#SPM - AKAR KITA: BAHASA JAKUN [4 OKT 2015]

Video credited to RTM in their Selamat Pagi Malaysia Series

Sang Kancil dan Sang Buaya in Jakun Language

Made by the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University of Malaya in conjunction of the The Mousedeer and the Crocodiles : A Malaysian Folktale in 111 Languages project

COIVD-19 Posters in Jakun Language

Credit to Dr. Rusaslina Idrus from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya and translators Mazerol (Johor Jakun) and Juliana Nursuhaily Bt. Ismail (Jakun Pahang)

Orang Asli-related organisations

Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli

The Department of Indigenous People's Development (JAKOA) is currently attached under the Ministry of Rural Development since 2020. The Jabatan Orang Asli (JOA) is first established in 1954 under the Aborigines People Ordinance No.3, and thus evolved into various names and functions.

Their aims are to assist the Orang Asli community in increasing their income and to uproot them from poverty lines, improve their health towards well-being of life and preserve their culture & heritage.

Visit JAKOA

72722431_2824225687589777_22410043360773

Centre for Malaysian Indigenous Studies

Established in 2004, the Centre for Malaysian Indigenous Studies (CMIS) coordinates multi-disciplinary researches and supports activism on indigenous people-related issues.

CMIS launches a HUB in December 2018 to connect UM academics with NGOs, activists and artisans through a series of seminars, workshops and cultural events. CMIS also collaborates with international researchers who are also interested in the indigenous people in Malaysia and compares them with indigenous people from other countries.

Visit CMIS

References

Masron, T., F. Masami, and N. Ismail, Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia: population, spatial distribution and socio-economic condition. J Ritsumeikan Soc Sci Humanit, 2013. 6: p. 75-115.
Ali, A., R. Jangga, and A.N. Yaakob, The Implementation Of Aboriginal People Act 1954 (Act 134) And Customary Law In The Appointment Of Tok Batin Kaum Jakun In Bekok, Segamat. Gading Journal for Social Sciences (e-ISSN 2600-7568), 2020. 23(01): p. 24-32.
Khor, G.L. and M. Zalilah, The ecology of health and nutrition of Orang Asli (Indigenous people) women and children in Peninsular Malaysia. Tribes and Tribals, 2008. 2: p. 66-77.
Mohd Sam, S.A., Kajian amalan budaya Orang Asli suku kaum Jakun di Kampung Peta. 2015, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia: Johor, MY.
Nor, M.M.M., M.F. Sukimi, and M.N.M. Nor, Kesedaran pendidikan dan minat kerja pelajar Orang Asli suku kaum Jakun di Rompin, Pahang (Awareness of education and work interests of Orang Asli Jakun students in Rompin, Pahang). Geografia-Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 2018. 14(1).
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Budaya, pantang larang dan amalan kesihatan Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia. 1998, Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, MY.
Dentan, R.K., et al., Malaysia and the Original People: A Case Study of the Impact of Development on Indigenous Peoples. 1998, Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Kemalok, J. and M. Mohamed, Serangga dan mitos suku kaum Jakun, Kampung Peta, Mersing Johor. Serangga, 2018. 23(1).
Man, Z. and E.N. Yeoh, Penyertaan orang Asli dalam aktiviti eko-pelancongan di Tasik Chini, Pahang, Malaysia (Orang Asli participation in eco-tourism activities at Tasik Chini, Pahang, Malaysia). Geografia-Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 2019. 15(4).
Rose, R.A.C., N.H. Saari, and N. Lyndon, KEFAHAMAN DAN PENGALAMAN LITERASI DALAM KALANGAN MASYARAKAT ORANG ASLI PAHANG (The Understanding and Experience in Literacy among Orang Asli of Pahang). e-Bangi, 2017. 14(6).
AWANI, A. Kenali kaum Orang Asli Jakun. AWANI X-tra [Video] 2019; Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD44Z8A3zx8.
Parker, J., et al., ‘Behaving like a Jakun!’ A case study of conflict, ‘othering’and indigenous knowledge in the Orang Asli of Tasik Chini. Journal of Sociology and Development, 2019. 3(1).