Batek Choose Tradition Over Modernity

By Mohd Fharkhan Abdul Ghapar

GUA MUSANG (Bernama) -- When what was then perceived as a mysterious illness caused some deaths among the Batek tribe in Kampung Kuala Koh here several weeks ago, it spooked the rest of their community who then abandoned the village and scampered into the jungle. 

In fact, by early May, the village -- located about 80 kilometres from Gua Musang -- was completely deserted.

Kampung Kuala Koh, which has a population of 200, has about 15 traditional huts, as well as 10 two-bedroom single-storey brick houses built by the government several years ago under its Orang Asli development programme.

When the Bernama crew visited Kampung Kuala Koh recently to cover the measles outbreak in the area, a team of medical officers from the Gua Musang District Health Office were there to carry out health checks on some of the Batek people who had to be coaxed out of their temporary dwellings, located about 10 km inside the jungle, by officials from the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA).

When our team later drove up to one of the temporary settlements, the inhabitants took to their heels and disappeared deeper into the jungle upon seeing the "outsiders".  

That's the nature of the semi-nomadic, dark-skinned and curly-haired Batek tribe, who are a shy and reserved lot and prefer to keep to themselves. As a matter of fact, they believe that they would earn the displeasure of their gods if they interact with outsiders. 

Recently, however, they were unwittingly in the spotlight when the media reported that 14 Orang Asli in Kampung Kuala Koh had died "mysteriously" between May 2 and June 7.

On June 18, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed that the deaths were caused by measles. By then, 15 deaths were recorded there, with the youngest victim aged two years and six months.

Currently, more than 100 people are undergoing treatment at Hospital Gua Musang here, Hospital Hulu Terengganu in Terengganu and Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II in Kota Bharu.

HUNTING AND FORAGING      

The Batek is a sub-ethnic community in the Negrito group, the oldest of the three main Orang Asli groups in Peninsular Malaysia.

The Batek population is estimated at 1,500 to 2,000, with most of them dwelling in Kelantan and Terengganu and a small number in Pahang.

Not many Malaysians knew of the existence of the Batek tribe until the health crisis claimed 15 of them in Kampung Kuala Koh.

Those who survived the measles outbreak are currently staying in about 20 thatched huts, which they refer to as 'haya', in a temporary settlement, located close to a tributary of Sungai Lebir.

They may return to their permanent houses in Kampung Kuala Koh after the health authorities have declared the area safe.

While covering the measles outbreak, this writer spoke to some of the locals to get an insight into their way of life.

Even though they have a permanent village to live in, the Batek people, being a semi-nomadic tribe, would during the fruit and honey seasons take off to the jungle with their families.

The men would leave their families in the 'haya' and hunt for animals and forage for jungle products like honey and sandalwood that have high economic value.

Kolim Terbon, who is from Kampung Kuala Koh, said they would go into the jungle in groups of three to eight and look for bamboo, rattan, resin, sandalwood, honey and frogs, among others. 

"The rice we eat is donated to us by JAKOA and others. We hunt and eat small animals like squirrels, birds and jungle fowl. And, on the days we manage to catch a deer, we have a feast," said the father-of-four, who is in his 60s.

He said they still use traditional hunting tools like slingshot, blowpipe and spear to catch their prey.

Known for their jungle skills and expertise, the Batek tribesmen have knowledge of the intricacies of the forest and can venture deep into the jungle without getting lost. The women, meanwhile, are well versed in the use of jungle herbs. 

LACK OF FACILITIES

It was the writer's intention to interview the village headman or 'tok batin' Hamdan Keladi but sadly, he and his three of his children were among the victims of the measles attack.

One of Hamdan's sons, who identified himself as Lan, said he survived because he was in the jungle in search of honey during the height of the health crisis.

One of his sisters was hospitalised while his mother was unaffected by the disease.

Asked why his community still seem to prefer to live in their makeshift shacks in the jungle than the brick houses built for them by the government, Lan said while they appreciated the help rendered to them they also wished the houses came with proper facilities.

"We have neither electricity nor water supply. We would rather stay in the jungle as it is cool and comfortable for us. Earlier (in Kampung Kuala Koh), we had clean water supply but after the water pump broke down, it was not repaired and we had to rely on the water in the nearby stream (that flowed from an oil palm estate).

"The water was not clean and many of us complained of stomach ache, fever and skin problems," he told Bernama.

Inside the forest, about seven kilometres from Kampung Kuala Koh, relatively clean water is available from the main river Sungai Lebir, close to where the Batek people prefer to set up their 'haya' or temporary shelters. 

ANIMISM

On their way of life and traditions and customs they practised, Lan said only a small portion of the 200 indigenous people who lived there were willing to enter into modernity as most of them preferred to adhere to their primitive lifestyle and animistic beliefs.

"Many of us are still scared of outsiders. And, when we fall sick, some of us will go to the clinic but others will see the 'tok batin' (for spiritual 'treatment'). The sick would also go into the jungle and alienate themselves until they get better," he said.

In some instances whenever a death occurs in a Batek settlement, the rest of the tribe would immediately move to another area as they believe that the deceased's spirit may haunt them.

Holding steadfast to the belief that they are deeply connected to the environment they live in, the Batek observe a unique burial ritual whereby the corpse is wrapped in a straw mat and placed on a wooden platform built three to four feet high amongst the trunks of three trees.  

Mohd Fadzli Mamok, an Orang Asli religious teacher from the Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, told Bernama it was a challenging task for him to teach the Islamic way of life to the Batek people who have converted to Islam as their age-old customs and traditions were deeply rooted in their minds.

They still believe in the existence of supernatural entities and were convinced that these spirits, which have names like 'Hala' and 'Karei', have power over jungle life.

"They have their own set of superstitions. That's why some of them are reluctant to meet or communicate with outsiders as they are worried that in doing so, they may invoke the anger of the spiritual entities they believed in.

"For example, they believe that the sound of thunder is produced by a huge entity that can show its wrath by causing the water in a river to swell and rush downstream with great force," added Mohd Fadzli, who has been giving religious guidance to the Batek villagers for several years now.

Translated by Rema Nambiar

BERNAMA