Aktiviti ekonomi tradisional merupakan salah satu elemen yang penting dalam cara hidup masyarakat Orang Asli untuk memastikan bekalan makanan mereka terjamin serta pada masa yang sama mengekalkan adat tradisi dan sistem kepercayaan. Walau bagaimanapun, ekonomi global sedang berevolusi menjadi ekonomi berasaskan wang telah menyebabkan masyarakat Orang Asli berhadapan dengan ancaman yang serius. Justeru, tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk meneliti aktiviti ekonomi tradisional masyarakat Orang Asli khususnya komuniti Semelai dan Semai serta mengenalpasti cabaran yang mereka hadapi dalam mengekalkan aktiviti tradisi mereka. Oleh itu, kaedah yang digunakan adalah kaedah mengedar soal selidik dan menemu bual secara mendalam untuk mendapatkan data. Hasil kajian mendapati suku kaum Semelai dan Semai mengamalkan aktiviti ekonomi utama yang sama iaitu aktiviti ekonomi tanaman kontan. Kedua-dua suku kaum mempunyai sedikit persamaan serta perbezaan dari aspek nilai dan sistem kepercayaan terutamanya berkenaan dengan pertanian tradisi. Malah, mereka turut berisiko menghadapi masalah ketidakstabilan makanan. Oleh hal yang demikian, penulisan ini menekankan kepentingan untuk memelihara aktiviti ekonomi tradisional supaya komuniti ini memperoleh akses yang sama rata kepada sumber makanan dan menuntut hak Orang Asli.

Kata kunci: Masyarakat Pribumi; Orang Asli; aktiviti ekonomi tradisional; pertanian sara diri; jaminan makanan

Abstract: Traditional economic activity is one of the important elements in the Orang Asli community’s way of life to secure food for a living and at the same time sustaining their customs and belief systems. However, as the global economy is revolving and becoming money-based economy, the Orang Asli community is facing a great threat. Hence, this study aims to observe the Orang Asli especially the Semelai and Semai communities’ traditional economic activity and challenges in sustaining their traditional activities. Therefore, the data collection method used is survey and in-depth interview. This study finds that both Semelai and Semai community practices the same economic activity which is cash-crop economic activity and self-sufficiency. Both subgroups do have few similarities and also differences in values and belief system especially involving the traditional agriculture activity. In fact, they are at risk of food insecurity. Hence, this paper highlights the importance of preserving the traditional economic activity so the community able to gain equal access to food supplies and reclaim their rights as Orang Asli.

Keywords: Indigenous community; Orang Asli; traditional economic activity; subsistence agriculture; food security

References

Abdullah J., Borhanb M. A., & Ahmada C. B. (2015), Orang Asli resettlement in urban environment at Bukit Lanjan, Selangor, Malaysia. Asian Conference on Environment-Behaviour Studies, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.08.132

Abegunde V. O., Sibanda M., & Obi A. (2019). Determinants of the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices by small-scale farming households in King Cetshwayo district municipality, South Africa. Sustainability, 12(195). https://doi.org/10.3390/su12010195

Abidin Z. Z. Z & Wee S. T. (2013). isu konflik tanah adat bagi Orang Asli di Malaysia. Persidangan Kebangsaan Geografi & Alam Sekitar Kali Ke 4 UPSI, hlm. 577-563.

Ba Q. X., Lu, D. J., Kuo, W. H. J., & Lai P. H. (2018). Traditional farming and sustainable development of an indigenous community in the mountain area - A case study of Wutai village in Taiwan. Sustainability, 10(10), 3370. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10103370

Baharom N. A., & Zaki P. H. (2020). Socioeconomic Temiar community in RPS Kemar, Hulu Perak. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 596 012072. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/596/1/012072

Curchin, K. (2015). Two visions of indigenous economic development and cultural survival: The ‘real economy’ and the ‘hybrid economy’, Australian Journal of Political Science, 50(3), 412-426.            https://doi.org/10.1080/10361146.2015.1049976

Endicott, K., & Dentan, R. K. (2004). Into the mainstream or into the backwater? Malaysian assimilation of Orang Asli. In C. R. Dunchan. Civilizing the margins: Southeast Asian government policies for the development of minorities (pp. 24-55). Cornell University Press.

Errico, S. (2017). the rights of indigenous peoples in Asia human rights-based overview of national legal and policy frameworks against the backdrop of country strategies for development and poverty reduction. International Labour Office, Gender, Equality and Diversity Branch. - Geneva: ILO, 2017.

FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP & WHO. (2023). The state of food security and nutrition in the World 2023. urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc3017en

Fenelon, J. V. & Murguia, S. J. (2008). Indigenous people: Globalization, resistance, & revitalization. American Behavioral Scientist, 51(12). https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764208318924

Firdaus R. R. B., Tan M. L., Rahmat S. R. & Gunaratne M. S. (2020). Paddy, rice and food security in Malaysia: A review of climate change impacts, Cogent Social Sciences, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2020.1818373

Gomes, A. G. (2004). Looking for money: Capitalism and modernity in an Orang Asli village. Trans Pacific Press.

Guo, T., García-Martín, M., & Plieninger T. (2021). Recognizing indigenous farming practices for sustainability: A narrative analysis of key elements and drivers in a Chinese dryland terrace system. Ecosystems and People, 17(1), 279–291 https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2021.1930169

Harun, N., & Hamid, N. ‘A. (2010). Akta Orang Asli 1954 (Akta 134): Sejauh mana melindungi hak Orang Asli: Satu kajian perbandingan. 1st International Conference on Public Policies & Social Science 2010 (ICoP 2010), pp. 1-14

Hassan, M. S. & Nordin, R. (2022). Hak penentuan kendiri Orang Asli: Teori dan realiti. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Hazman, W. A., Mohsin A., & Rahman M. S. A. (2020). Land ownership for Orang Asli in Malaysia: Current situation, International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 9(3), 4998-5002.

Ibrahim, Z. (2000). Regional development in Rural Malaysia and the `tribal question'. Modern Asian Studies 34(1), 99-137. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0026749X00003541

Israel, M. A., Amikuzuno J., & Danso-Abbeam G. (2020). Assessing farmers' contribution to greenhouse gas emission and the impact of adopting climate-smart agriculture on mitigation. Ecological Processes, 9(51). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-020-00249-2

Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (2022, Disember 27). Suku kaum Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia. https://www.jakoa.gov.my/orang-asli/suku-kaum/

Kuhnlein, H. V., & Chotiboriboon, S. (2022). Why and how to strengthen indigenous peoples’ food systems with examples from two unique indigenous communities. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.808670

Octavia, D., Suharti S., Murniati, Dharmawan I.W.S., Nugroho H.Y.S.H., Supriyanto B., Rohadi D., Njurumana G.N., Yeny I.,……. & Hani A. (2022). Mainstreaming smart agroforestry for social forestry implementation to support sustainable development goals in Indonesia: A review. Sustainability, 14 https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159313

On, L. K. (2012). Belief in Bambarayon (paddy spirits) among the Kadazandusun of North Borneo, Borneo Research Journal, 6, 75-101.

Masron, T., Masami F & Ismail, N. (2017). Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia: Population, spatial distribution and socio-economic condition. Researchgate 2017 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286193594

Ministry of Economy (2021, 12 July). Sustainable development goals. https://www.ekonomi.gov.my/en/sustainable-development-goals.

Nicholas, C., Engi J. & The, Y. P (2010). Orang Asli and the UNDRIP: From rhetoric to recognition. Center for Orang Asli Concerns.

Nordin, R., Anuar, N. S., Zahari, N.S.I., & Uthayasoorian, N. A. S. (2021). Hak Orang Asal berkaitan dengan pengambilalihan tanah: Kajian perbandingan antara Malaysia dengan Filipina. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Olaniyi, A. O., Abdullah A. M., Ramli M. F., & Sood A. M. (2013). Agricultural land use in Malaysia: An historical overview and implications for food security, Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 19(1) 2013, 60-69.

Saifullah, M. K., Masud M. M., & Kari F. (2021). Vulnerability context and well-being factors of indigenous community development: A study of Peninsular Malaysia. AlterNative, 17(1), 94–105. https://doi.org/10.1177/1177180121995166

Saridakis, G., Georgellis, Y., Torres, R. I. M., Mohammed A. M., & Blackburn R. (2021). From subsistence farming to agribusiness and nonfarm entrepreneurship: does it improve economic conditions and well being? Journal of Business Research, 136, 567–579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.07.037

Sharma, A. (2021). Decolonizing international relations: Confronting erasures through indigenous knowledge systems, International Studies. 58(1), 25-42.  https://doi.org/10.1177/0020881720981209

Serji. (2018), Sistem Torrens dalam undang-undang tanah di Malaysia: Sistem yang tidak eksklusif, Proceeding of 2nd International Conference on Law, Economics and Education (ICONLEE).

Siwar C., Alam M. M., Murad M. W. Murad, Al-Amin A. Q. (2009), A review of the linkages between climate change, agricultural sustainability and poverty in Malaysia. International Review of Business Research Papers. 5(6), 309- 321

Suara RISDA (n.d.). Bantuan rasmi suara RISDA. https://www.suararisda.my/bantuan.

United Nations (n.d.). The 17 goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Vaghefi, N., Shamsudin, M. N., Radam, A., & Rahim, K. A. (2016). Impact of climate change on food security in Malaysia: economic and policy adjustments for rice industry. Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, 13(1), 19–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/1943815X.2015.1112292

Yahya, H., Rosmin, F., Foo J., & Martin, R. A. (2020). Kesan amalan sistem pertanian tradisional dan peranan Orang Asal dalam mengurangkan degradasi hutan: Kajian di Hutan Simpan Gana-Lingkabau, Kota Marudu, Sabah. Journal of Borneo Social Transformation Studies, 6(1) http://dx.doi.org/10.51200/jobsts.v6i1.2799

Yogi, I. B. P. P. (2018). Padi gunung pada masyarakat Dayak, sebuah budaya bercocok tanam penutur Austronesia (melalui pendekatan etnoarkeologi). Forum Arkeologi 31(1), 45 – 56, https://doi.org/10.24832/fa.v31i1.456

Yusoh, M. P., M. S., Hassan, S. M. H. & Mapjabil J. (2021). Perkembangan aspek keusahawanan, ekonomi dan sosial Orang Asli di Malaysia: Satu analisis literatur. International Journal of Accounting, Finance and Business (IJAFB), 6(36), 104 - 117.

World Food Summit. (1996). Rome declaration on world food security, Population and Development Review, 22(4), 807-809. https://doi.org/10.2307/2137827

World Bank. (2023, April 6) Indigenous People, World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/indigenouspeoples .