Mah Meri people

Their ancestors are believed to be associated with the arrival of Austro-Asiatic migrants associated with the emergence of fire-cutting agriculture on the Malay Peninsula and the emergence of rice. Due to cultural exchanges and trade, some Mah Meri and Senoi have intermixed with local Negrito tribes.

The changes in the Mah Meri population are as the following:

{{Historical population

| 1960 | 1,898

| 1965 | 1,212

| 1969 | 1,198

| 1974 | 1,356

| 1980 | 1,389

| 1993 | 2,185

| 1996 | 2,185

| 2000 | 3,503

| 2003 | 2,986

| 2004 | 2,856

| 2005 | 2,200

| 2010 | 2,120

|percentages=pagr

|source={{cite web|url=http://www.coac.org.my/dashboard/modules/cms/cms~file/93c38c2f6837049ec87607013c0c5404.pdf |title=Living On The Periphery: Development and Islamization Among Orang Asli in Malaysia |author=Nobuta Toshihiro |publisher=Center for Orang Asli Concerns |year=2009 |access-date=2017-10-27}}{{cite book|url=https://www.iwgia.org/images/publications//0133_95_The_Orang_Asli_and_the_contest_for_resources.pdf |title=The Orang Asli and the Contest for Resources. Indigenous Politics, Development and Identity in Peninsular Malaysia |author=Colin Nicholas |publisher=Center for Orang Asli Concerns & International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs |year=2000 |access-date=2017-10-27 |isbn=87-90730-15-1 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.coac.org.my/main.php?section=about&article_id=4 |title= Basic Data / Statistics |publisher= Center for Orang Asli Concerns |access-date=2017-10-27}}{{cite book|author=Alberto Gomes|title=Modernity and Malaysia: Settling the Menraq Forest Nomads|year=2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=11-341-0076-0}}

}}

File:Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula (1906) (14758624876).jpg, Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia, 1906.]]

Mah Meri in Mah Meri language means "Jungle people" (Mah = people, Meri = jungle).,{{cite book|author=Asmah Haji Omar|title=Bahasa Mah Meri|year=2006|publisher=Penerbit Universiti Malaya|isbn=98-310-0242-3|page=11}} while in another term the meaning of the name means Bersisik (meaning, "scaly" in Malay language){{cite book|author=Ab. Aziz Mohd. Zin|title=Dakwah Islam di Malaysia|year=2006|publisher=Akademi Pengajian Islam, Universiti Malaya|isbn=98-310-0381-0|page=21}} or Persisir (meaning, "coastal" in Malay language). They are also considered as Orang Laut due to them residing in settlements that are nearby seasides and work as fishermen.{{cite book|author=Asmah Haji Omar|title=Massa: majalah berita mingguan, Issues 425-433|year=2004|publisher=Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Berhad|page=21}} They are believed to have migrated from the islands in southern Johor to the coastal shores of Selangor in order to escape from their enemies.{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260517575 |title=Mah Meri Onstage: Negotiating National Policies, Tourism, And Modernisation In Kampung Sungai Bumbun, Carey Island, Malaysia |author=Clare Chan Suet Ching |publisher=University Of Hawai’i |pages=49–50 |date=December 2010 |access-date=2017-07-07}}

Today Mah Meri community has undergone changes in terms of mentality and development as a result of integrating with other neighbouring communities.

The Mah Meri language, also called Besisi, is an Austroasiatic language. It is part of Southern Aslian sub-branch of Aslian languages, and is related to Semelai, Temoq and Semaq Beri.{{cite book|author=Asmah Haji Omar|title=Language and Language Situation in Southeast Asia: With a Focus on Malaysia|year=2003|publisher=Akademi Pengajian Melayu, Universiti Malaya|isbn=98-320-8556-X|page=30}} There are an estimated 3,000 people still speaking the language, but it is seriously endangered.

File:Mah Meri spider spirit mask (6346812079).jpg

Many among them are skilled in carving statues that are made from wood. Their carvings include deities, humans, flora and fauna figurines. These carvings have gained recognition from the UNESCO.{{cite web|url=http://seeds.theborneopost.com/2014/07/08/rediscovering-the-mah-meri/ |title=Rediscovering the Mah Meri |author=Patricia Hului |publisher=The Borneo Post Seeds |date=8 July 2014 |access-date=2017-07-07}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/07/01/bringing-the-worlds-attention-to-malaysias-heritage/ |title=Bringing the world's attention to Malaysia's heritage |author=Nurul Afida Kamaludin |publisher=The Borneo Post |date=1 July 2012 |access-date=2017-07-07}} Handicrafts produce of the Mah Meri community in Sungai Bumbun, Kuala Langat have high artistic value and the potential to be recognised at an international level.{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/data/archives/2013/07/05/13/54/preserving-the-skill/ |title=Preserving the skill |author=Leong Siok Hui |work=The Star Online |date=22 July 2006|access-date=2017-07-07}}

• Sewang dance{{cite web|url=http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/Keluarga/20140222/ke_01/Kekalkan-tradisi |title=Kekalkan tradisi |publisher=Utusan Online |date=22 February 2014 |access-date=2017-10-11}}
• Tarian Jo'oh (Jungle dance){{cite web|url=http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/festival-orang-asli-pribumi-pukau-pengunjung-1.444506 |title=Festival Orang Asli, pribumi pukau pengunjung |publisher=Sinar Harian |date=26 October 2015 |access-date=2016-11-10}}
• Tarian Topeng (Mask dance)

In common with other Orang Asli Villages, each kampung elects its own Batin (Village Headman) and a council of "elders" to represent the people living in the kampung. The Batin is paid an annual salary by the Malaysian government. The Bomoh, who functions as a shaman in their society, plays an important role in the kampung. Main puteri (meaning "Playing princess"), a dying ritualistic form of treatment due to Islamisation; is performed by the Mah Meri shaman to rejuvenate patients with emotional depression, physical fatigue or psychological problems caused by metaphysical forces.{{cite web|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/malaysian-shamans-brave-islams-ill-winds |title=Malaysian shamans brave Islam's ill winds |author=Rouwen Lin |publisher=The Malay Mail |date=5 August 2015 |access-date=2016-11-10}}

File:Geographical location of Orang Asli communities recruited in the study.jpg) and other Orang Asli communities in Peninsular Malaysia.]]

Major settlements of the Mah Meri people are:-

{{Reflist}}

• http://projekt.ht.lu.se/rwaai RWAAI (Repository and Workspace for Austroasiatic Intangible Heritage)
• http://hdl.handle.net/10050/00-0000-0000-0003-66E2-7@view Mah Meri in RWAAI Digital Archive

{{Commons category|Mah Meri people}}

{{Orang Asli}}

{{Ethnic groups in Malaysia}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Indigenous peoples of Southeast Asia

Category:Ethnic groups in Malaysia

Category:Orang Asli