Malaysia

Since 2022 the department develops research facilities in Malaysia peninsular at three different sites: the Temiar community in the Temengor area in the north, the Batek community at the edge of Taman Negara in central Malaysia, and an urban population at Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur. This approach provides a unique opportunity to study diverse communities from traditional rural lifestyles to modern urban environments.

The village of Penseg is located in a hilly area surrounded by forest and close to Lake Temengor. The forest is partially being logged; other parts have already been converted into plantations. The village's main water source is a small nearby river that provides relatively clean water. Traditionally slash-and-burn farmers, the Temiar of Penseg live mainly from their agricultural produce and work in the nearby plantations. While some other Temiar groups have access to formal schooling, running water and electricity, the Temiar of Penseg live in a more remote area where these infrastructures are not available. An important part of Temiar culture are Sewang ceremonies, which usually include music, singing and dancing, but also vary from village to village.

On the outskirts of Taman Negara, we work with a Batek community in Kuala Koh. Traditionally, the Batek live a nomadic hunter-gatherer life. Their society is often described as gender egalitarian, with no real positions of power and a strong emphasis on individual autonomy, but also strong norms of sharing. The group we are working with consists of around 300 people who live in an environment of strong contrasts. The village lies between oil palm plantations and primary rainforest. On the one hand, this provides access to (unreliable) electricity and running water. On the other hand, many community members still spend long periods of time in the forest following their traditional way of life, namely hunting, collecting tubers and looking for forest products to sell. Childhood in the community is characterised by play and exploration, with children learning through observation rather than through formal instruction. However, increasing access to formal schooling is introducing a different way of learning, adding another layer of contrast to the community.

In Kuala Lumpur, our collaboration with the psychology department at Sunway University gives  us access to an urban sample. Kuala Lumpur's ethnic diversity with its mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian descendants provides a rich context for comparing different cultural populations.

Our Malaysian research team includes members of the Department as well as members of the Temiar and Batek communities. Several local partners, including anthropologists, cross-cultural psychologists, NGOs, and activists, provide us with valuable insights from various perspectives on Orang Asli communities. Internationally, we partner with Dr. Frankie Fong, a senior lecturer and former project leader of the fieldsite, who now serves as an external consultant.

Current studies focus on social learning, baby-schema and spatial reference, with research publications forthcoming. For more information, please contact us at ccp_malaysia@eva.mpg.de