Digital Ethnography Among Orang Asli Community at Kampung Orang Asli of Malaysia

Introduction

Orang Asli is a unique ethnic group and Bumiputera community that still exists in some parts of Malaysia, demonstrating their identity as early residents of Malaya. The Orang Asli community maintains social, cultural, economic, and political qualities that are unique from the dominant society in which they dwell (Masron, 2013). Indigenous peoples also inherited a distinct usage of language and accent, as well as particular knowledge and beliefs. They also have a mystical connection to nature and valuable natural resource management strategies. According to Othman (2012), the Orang Asli community's economy is based on dealings with native Malays, who exchange their forest products for salt, knives, and metal axes. Radios and televisions are found in a huge percentage of homes. A huge percentage of homes have radios and televisions that are tuned to private channels. Electric generators are also available for use at night, and they spend the majority of their time completing home tasks and earning a wage.

The Indigenous people's unique and culturally diverse life has been exposed to modernity, for example Chowdhury et.al.(2022) and Roy et al.(2022) (Chowdhury et al., 2022, pp.186-206; Roy et al.,2022,pp.208-226). The economic, education, social, and cultural lifestyles have all changed dramatically as a result of modernization (Siraz, 2020). Essentially, change is occurring as a result of the efforts of various parties, particularly the government, to assist in improving the Orang Asli community's quality of life. However, because of society's influence and awareness, mental and physical modernization has occurred, leading to progress and a sophisticated and high level of life, as well as the era of globalization (Faezah, 2017). In other words, life-improvement projects have updated their way of life to some extent.

In Malaysia, the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), an agency that monitors all aspects of the Orang under the Ministry of Rural Development. This is the following definition of Orang Asli according to the Orang Asli Act-1954 (Act, 134) under Aboriginal Peoples Ordinance No. 3, 1954 which was amended in 1974.

• 1.

  Any person whose male parent is or was, a member of an aboriginal ethnic group, who speaks an aboriginal language and habitually follows an aboriginal way of life and aboriginal customs and beliefs, and includes a descendant through males of such persons;

• 2.

  Any person of any race adopted when an infant by aborigines who have been brought up as an aborigine, habitually speaks an aboriginal language, habitually follows an aboriginal way of life and aboriginal customs and beliefs, and is a member of an aboriginal community; or

• 3.

  The child of any union between an aboriginal female and a male of another race provided that the child habitually speaks an aboriginal language habitually follows an aboriginal way of life and aboriginal customs and beliefs and remains a member of an aboriginal community.¹

• 4.

  Any aborigine who by reason of conversion to any religion or for any other reason ceases to adhere to aboriginal beliefs but who continues to follow an aboriginal way of life and aboriginal customs or speaks an aboriginal language shall not be deemed to have ceased to be an aborigine by reason only of practicing that religion.

• 5.

  Any question whether any person is or is not an aborigine shall be decided by the Minister.