
The name "Orang Asli" means "original people" or "first people". They all live on the Peninsular of Malaysia. Nowadays there about 60.000 Orang Asli people, of which 60% still live in the rain forest. About 40% Orang Asli live along or near the coast. Each has its own language and culture, and perceives itself as different from the others. Linguistically, some of the northern Orang Asli groups speak languages, that suggest a historical link with the indigenous peoples in Burma, Thailand and Indo-China. They are classified into three groups:
- Senoi
- Orang Malayu Asli
- Negrito
They remind me of that supposed lost Tribe they found in the Philippines years ago. Never had contact with civilization, turns out that they were driven into the jungles by the present inhabitants centuries ago. I forget all of the details.