● There are 3 main categories of Orang Asli which are the Negrito, Senoi and Melayu Proto

Subtribe

Senoi
-The Senoi (also spelled Sengoi and Sng'oi).
-Distributed at the central region of Peninsular Malaysia
-Their ancestors are believed to have arrived from southern Thailand about 4,500 years ago.

Negrito
-Distributed at the northern region of peninsular Malaysia

Proto-Malay 
-Distributed at southern region of Peninsular Malaysia

Ubi kayu kennem – It is grated tapioca that is soaked in water till it starts to ferment. The fermented tapioca is then cooked as fritters. It is a popular breakfast or snack option.
Lemang – Lemang is glutinous rice that is wrapped in banana leaf and filled into bamboo logs. It takes good amount of practice to cook the rice to perfection. It is eaten along with meat curry.

Ketupat – They are rice cakes that are cooked in coconut leaves. The coconut leaves are weaved together to form little pockets. The pockets are filled with rice and steamed, till the rice puffs up and fills the coconut pocket.

Sewang Dance
Sewang is a traditional dance performed by the Orang Asli. Originally the dance was performed to treat the sick or wounded, now it is also used to entertain foreign travelers. It involves dancing in a circle to music produced from bamboo.

· Apart from that, they also believe that the spirits exist in natural phenomena like the thunder, lightning and earthquake.
· Each living things or creature possesses a soul of its own.
· From the religious point of view, both the Semai and Temiar share similar traditional belief system. Both groups believe in the existence of a ultimate supra-natural being responsible for the creation of the world and all of its inhabitants: plants, the seas, the
mountains, trees, animals, and above all, mankind.

· The Semai referred to it as Jenang or Nyenang, while the Temiar referred to it as Tak Pedn

· Both these groups believe in the presence of a thunder god known as Engkuʼ by the Semai and Karei by the Temiar.

· The Thunder God is a supra-natural being that controls human behaviour, punishing those who misbehave against their own cultural norms and social mores as well as other natural laws. In addition, they also believe in other gods (known as nyaniik in Semai and chinoi in Temiar) who become the foundation of supernatural sanctions, such as bad luck, illness and other disasters.

· Many significant events in their lives such as birth, illness, death and agricultural rituals have much animistic symbolism.

· Their priests practice magic, foresee the future, and cure illness. They would use Capnomancy (divination by smoke) to decide whether a camp is safe for the night. Their priests are said to be “shaman” in that they are someone who acts as a medium between the visible world and an invisible spirit world.

·Acts as intermediary between humans and the world of spirits, combating evil spirits, curing illnesses and strengthening the morale of the group.

· Everyone in the tribe is encouraged to share their dreams, which are then interpreted by experts.

· Children are encouraged to mention their dreams to their fathers.

· Acts as a social control whereby a dream bestows obligations on its dreamer to warn his or her friends of any forthcoming danger.

● Visits to Orang Asli houses are recommended in the afternoon
Day time: time for doing work
Afternoon & Evening time: time for rest and relaxing
The host's having dinner time: invited to join in and it is considered rude if a guest refuses to eat food served by the host.

● When the guests arrive, they should wait at the side of the house and pretend to cough to attract the attention of the host. Normally the guests will call out the name of the host’s eldest child. For example, if the name of the eldest child is “Alang”, then the guests will ask: “Is Alang’s father at home ?”

● Orang Asli does not like visitors who praise his newborn baby.
Reason: the words will be heard by ghosts nearby who will come and take the baby away.  This is proven if the baby falls sick or has a fever.

● The husband must not go fishing by using the net.

● Both husband and wife are also not allowed to eat deer meat.

Reason: According to the Orang Asli belief, anyone who continues to work after being informed of a death will fall sick or meet with a disaster.

● All the children will smear their ears with chalk cast with spell.  Charcoal is swept at the eye brows, chest and soles of the feet. 
Reason: In this way, all the ghosts and devils believed to have killed the deceased will not disturb the children who have put on the “pengandang”. The “pengandang” is very important especially  during night time.   

·         has the authority over all issues in the village including martial affairs and death, as head of            customs and administrative of the village’s socioeconomic activities.

·         look after and safeguard the well-being of his tribesmen

·         the contact person with the outside world 

          (as a liaison person with government agencies and neighbouring villages)

·         determine regulations for his tribe and impose punishment on those who have made                          mistakes or offences.

Batin’s appointment can be accomplished through heredity or by the individual’s ability and personality through villagers election, selected by management team member or the will of previous Batin. 

In every Orang Asli group, Batin is highly respected. Villagers will obey his instructions because he has the highest authority.

Tok batin Mabot Sela (centre) is the first orang asli in Johor to receive an appreciation award