Homeful and Hopeful: TAR UMT PR students witness Orang Asli’s struggles
Published on: Tuesday, April 18, 2023
TAR UMT PR students (L-R) Hong Juan Xian, Renee Toh Cai Xin, Cheong Karr Mei, Khoo Ching Huey, and Hamman, accompanied by Munirah Wan Mohamad, Lead of Business Development, and Mandeep Singh, Lead of Programme Development.
A HOME is more than a roof over our heads; it's a place of comfort, stability, and connection. It provides a safe haven for rest, work, and building relationships with loved ones.
It's a healing, warm, and communal space that offers much more than just shelter.
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All of us, including the Orang Asli community, deserve this space we’d like to call a “home”.
For the Orang Asli community, a safe home also means having a space to call their own, living in harmony with nature, and being part of a supportive community.
They view their home as a communal space that fosters community spirit through conversations, cultural celebrations and gatherings.
However, despite being an integral part of Malaysia’s indigenous population, many Orang Asli communities still struggle to secure safe homes, as their lands are threatened by legitimised national development projects and this issue remains overlooked, perpetuated across generations.
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These communities are often victims of the loggers who encroach on their lands, destroying their homes and livelihoods for economic gain.
Part of the problem also lies in the lack of understanding causing a divide between urban and rural communities.
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As urbanisation accelerates, the Orang Asli communities are left behind or forced to adapt to urban life rapidly.
Adaptation goes through the process where they are compelled to relocate from deep within the forest to less rural areas due to their traditional villages being encroached on for various development projects.
This uncertainty about the future of their homes and livelihoods creates a sense of insecurity, driving them away from their rural communities and towards more urban sites where they need to cope with living in a new environment.
In an effort to understand and bridge the divide between the Orang Asli and urban communities, 5 students from Year 2 Bachelor of Public Relations (Honours), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) KL Campus were given a chance to witness the conditions of their living environment and walk in their shoes of the Orang Asli community in Kampung Orang Asli Gurney, located near Batang Kali, where Epic Homes successfully built 32 houses for the Orang Asli communities over the years.
Upon arrival, the Orang Asli village may seem similar to a typical rural village at first glance, with the traditional Malay house structure raised on stilts high above the ground, but upon closer inspection, the students were struck by the similarities between the Orang Asli and urban communities.
Despite the close proximity of houses and absence of fences, the Orang Asli shared similar structures of homes in a modular form with their urban counterparts.
While not many visible differences in culture were apparent, the students appreciated both the similarities and differences between the two communities.
In addition to the shared structure of homes, the students observed the Orang Asli's use of sustainable materials, such as the creation of a farm development project and bamboo, in the construction of their cafes and a dryer rack for the bamboo they sell.
This demonstrates their deep connection to nature and respect for the environment. However, the Orang Asli also face challenges in accessing basic necessities, such as public transportation.
One elderly member of the community mentioned their grandchild's struggle to travel to the city to obtain an identity card, highlighting the difficulties they face in accessing essential services.
Despite these challenges, the Orang Asli community remained hopeful, upholding their unique cultures and homes and passing them down to future generations.
During the students' tour, they observed the joyful children at play, which was a testament to the resilience and spirit of the community despite adversities.
During the tour, Munirah Wan Mohamad, Lead of Business Development and Partnership from Epic Homes highlighted the homes built to go beyond providing shelter.
She recounted how Epic Homes was founded in response to the dire living conditions of a native Orang Asli, Pak Cihong and his family, who were living in a dilapidated shack; similar to many more Orang Asli living conditions seen.
This experience fueled the founders' passion to help other homes and communities in similar situations, ultimately leading to the establishment of Epic Homes and providing more homes for the Orang Asli community.
As a result, the students saw the impact of Epic Homes' efforts in the homes built at Kampung Orang Asli Gurney.
It was more than just a home, it was a foundation for them to improve their quality of life, pursue economic opportunities, and ultimately thrive as a community.
"Home is a basic need that you have for a unit of a family. Without homes, you don't have a safe place to go back to. So that's why we focus on our effort to provide these basic needs so that the family does not have to worry about going back to an unsafe condition on a daily basis," states Munirah.
Providing Orang Asli communities with this basic need has a significant impact, as it allows them to have aspirations and grow economically.
This is an essential point, and Epic Homes are making a difference by providing homes to those in need.
But the foundation of a safe home starts through empathy and inclusivity. Neglect and segregation only deepen the problem for the Orang Asli communities, where their hope is to feel a sense of belonging, stability and permanence.
Although the intention is good, it is not enough to provide a safe and secure home for the Orang Asli community, it takes more than just good intentions.
It takes understanding, time and a range of resources, including funding, materials, and volunteers, to build and maintain homes that meet the unique needs and preferences of each family.
It costs RM60,000 to build a modular home that usually houses a family of 5 through Epic Homes’ programme, which covers the cost of materials, supervision, logistics, and fundraising through the support of donations.
To ensure that each home is equipped with architecture and infrastructure that includes warranties and insurance coverage for natural disasters, Epic Homes relies on the support of dedicated volunteers who are willing to donate their time, skills, and resources to help build homes and create stronger communities.
Thus, in this regard, the students were inspired to come together and partnered with Epic Homes to raise funds to build a home for the Orang Asli community.
The visit to Kampung Orang Asli Gurney left a lasting impression on the students, who returned to their urban lives with a newfound appreciation for the simple yet meaningful way of life of the Orang Asli.
It also motivated them to advocate for the safe housing rights of Orang Asli communities and to spread awareness about the importance of preserving their culture and way of life.
With this in mind, a response to aid the communities that are in dire need especially the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia, 84 students from Year 2 Bachelor of Public Relations, TAR UMT collaborates with Epic Homes to organise the A.S.L.I. Campaign 2023, A Space Linking Identities aims to weave hopes for a complete home for the Orang Asli communities and to create awareness towards the issues surrounding the Orang Asli communities and the need to improve their basic welfare.
The two-day campaign will be held on 27th and 28th April 2023, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 1st Floor, Bangunan Tun Tan Siew Sin, TAR UMT, KL Main Campus with a series of educational exhibitions and meaningful activities, also aims to raise funds for RM60,000 to build one complete home by providing practical assistance for the Orang Asli communities through Epic Homes.
“After having an immersive experience at Kampung Orang Asli Gurney to truly understand the issues surrounding the Orang Asli communities, we understood that they were marginalised and their land and rights were gradually taken away from them.
“So, that’s why A.S.L.I. Campaign 2023 - Weaving Hopes for a Complete Home was created. We are humbled to partake and collaborate with Epic Homes.
“It is not only our hope to raise awareness for this community but to provide a safe space for the Orang Asli community to have their voices heard,” said Cheong Karr Mei, Organising Chairperson of A.S.L.I. Campaign 2023.
By supporting A.S.L.I. Campaign 2023, we can help provide a safe and secure home for the Orang Asli community, providing them with hope for a better future.
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