B - SWIDDEN CULTIVATORS
Shifting cultivation (based on dry rice, together with maize,
manioc, and banana) is supplemented by fruit picking in the forest, and hunting
and fishing on a daily basis. A few hevea and some fruit trees provide products
for exchange with the Malays and Chinese. Those who are most in contact with
the outside live on the fringes of the forest or of the forest reserve. Also,
settling down for too long (5 years) entails soil degradation in their fields,
and they must then move off to a new ladang (Temuan).
These societies have been in contact with the Malays for a long time.
They are under strong government pressure to stop swidden cultivation, settle
and become agricultural labourers in the cash crop economy (rubber, oil palms)
(Semai, FIX, 1991).
Ethnic groups
|
population
|
Semai
|
19.542
(1986)
|
Jakun
|
6.786
(1962)
|
Temuan
et Bélanda
|
5.241
(1962)
|
Orang
Seletar
|
252
(1962)
|
O.
Kuala and Desin Dolaq
|
936
(1962)
|
Temiar
|
10.000
(1969)
|
Semelai
|
2
600 (1981)
|
Jah
Hut
|
2
442 (1981)
|
See SS IV-B for detailed information on these groups