While Malaysians may automatically think of East Malaysia when thinking of the Orang Asli people, just a 40-minute drive away from the centre of KL is a greenery-rich lush forest with a soothing river backdrop in Hulu Selangor which is also the home of the Orang Asli people of Kampung Serendah.
Kampung Serendah is home to approximately 600 Temuan Orang Asli which makes up for the largest Orang Asli ethnicity in the Selangor state.
Sadly, in Peninsular Malaysia, nearly all Orang Asli households are in the income bracket of the poorest 40% of Malaysians. And as most of us only know too well, the pandemic has caused many Malaysians to struggle further financially.
To empower the Orang Asli people of Kampung Serendah with sustainable economic opportunities that leverage on their existing wealth of indigenous culture, the ‘Umah Temuan’ initiative was developed by non-profit organisation Epic, who partnered with social enterprise Native Discovery and global science company, 3M.
Now visitors will be able to give their support to the tribe while enjoying a respite from their busy city lives at the fully furnished homestay as part of a cultural exchange experience. Through this initiative, the Temuan tribe Orang Asli will also be able to generate income through community based tourism while concurrently boosting the local economy.
“The Temuan village in Kampung Serendah has a lot to offer in terms of culture and experiences. At Epic, we believe that creating a better world is a shared responsibility. With the combined efforts of a US$ 50,000 (RM199,000) grant from 3Mgives, Native’s expertise and the invaluable skills of the local Temuan people, we are determined to make Umah Temuan—meaning ‘Temuan home’ in traditional Temuan language—Malaysia’s go-to domestic travel destination,” said John-Son Oei, CEO of Epic.
This initiative will also help to drive awareness for the beautiful culture and traditions of the Temuan people as guests can enjoy lush jungle treks and even pick up traditional skills such as weaving bertam leaves for roof thatches and cooking classes on Orang Asli dishes taught by the people of Kampung Serendah themselves.
Just 3km away is the Serendah Waterfalls, with refreshingly cold gushing water which is a great place for picnics and swims, and this can be accessed via the village.
The homestay’s architectural elements pay homage to the Temuan tribe’s traditions which includes culture’s influence. To cultivate understanding and appreciation for the Orang Asli’s culture and heritage, high pitched roofs, locally sourced ‘atap bertam’ and bamboo wall panel weaving were used.
GT Lim, Country Leader of 3M Malaysia shared, “I can’t wait to book a staycation for my family and I, because besides enriching ourselves with the experience, we are also helping the Temuan tribe Orang Asli build their own income while keeping their beautiful heritage alive. It’s also why I’m truly proud of the 3M volunteers who contributed their time and effort to building these remarkable homestays.”
Book your stay on Native’s website.
Address: Umah Temuan Homestay, Kampung Orang Asli Serendah, 48200 Serendah
Image source: @alex_shang