{"id":6743,"date":"2025-11-17T01:48:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T01:48:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/?p=6743"},"modified":"2025-11-17T01:49:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T01:49:43","slug":"communication-in-eco-tourism-enhances-the-sustainability-of-the-orang-asli-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/2025\/11\/17\/communication-in-eco-tourism-enhances-the-sustainability-of-the-orang-asli-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Communication in Eco-Tourism Enhances the Sustainability of the Orang Asli Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>By Mohamad Suhaizi Suhaimi<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Muar<\/strong> \u2013 Kampung Orang Asli Bukit Panjang in Bukit Kepong, Muar is home to approximately 180 residents from the Jakun tribe. The village is surrounded by hills and forests that remain well-preserved from rapid development. Despite this, the village is easily accessible due to its good road network and its proximity to nearby Malay villages. Most of the villagers are self-employed, engaging in activities such as selling fruits and small-scale farming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it was found that their confidence in communicating with others and their awareness of cultural heritage are at a low level. They are still shy when speaking to people outside of their own community. In addition, traditional games such as <em>Kercang<\/em> are no longer played among the villagers. This situation could affect the eco-tourism potential of the village, which in fact has great prospects to become an important source of income for the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, a research team led by Dr. Mohamad Suhaizi Suhaimi took the initiative to enhance communication confidence and to instill appreciation for the heritage of the Orang Asli themselves. Together with students from IIUM, he has shown strong commitment toward realizing this noble objective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Communication Workshop was conducted, introducing participants to basic conversation skills and proper body language in communication. The participants consisted of adult women and schoolchildren. They demonstrated positive interest in improving their confidence to speak more assuredly in public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"6749\" src=\"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6749\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1-500x375.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1-800x600.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1-1280x960.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" data-id=\"6745\" src=\"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1A-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6745\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1A-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1A-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1A-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1A-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1A-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-1A.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Participants interacting in the Communication Workshop<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, the research team also organized a <em>Kercang<\/em> game workshop to increase the villagers\u2019 understanding of this unique heritage. <em>Kercang<\/em> consists of six types: Kercang Pasung, Kercang Kahwin, Kercang Tipah Tertipu, Kercang Dua Lubang, Kercang Gunting,and Kercang Wau. Participants appeared to appreciate this indigenous heritage more deeply and showed great enthusiasm in learning how the game is played.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"6746\" src=\"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6746\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2-500x375.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2-800x600.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2-1280x960.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2-1920x1440.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"6744\" src=\"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2A-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2A-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2A-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2A-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2A-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2A-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2A-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2A-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2A-1280x960.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-2A-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Participants trying out the Kercang game<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"6747\" src=\"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-3-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-3-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-3-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-3-500x667.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-3-800x1067.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2025\/11\/Gambar-3.jpeg 810w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Dr. Suhaizi explaining how to play Kercang<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, it is hoped that such initiatives can continue to ensure the sustainability of the Orang Asli community in Malaysia. Support from all parties, including the Government and Private Organizations, is crucial in ensuring that this unique heritage can be preserved and enjoyed by future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Mohamad Suhaizi Suhaimi Muar \u2013 Kampung Orang Asli Bukit Panjang in Bukit Kepong, Muar is home to approximately 180 residents from the Jakun tribe. The village is surrounded by hills and forests that remain well-preserved from rapid development. Despite this, the village is easily accessible due to its good road network and its proximity to nearby Malay villages. Most of the villagers are self-employed, engaging in activities such as selling fruits and small-scale farming. However, it was found that their confidence in communicating with others and their awareness of cultural heritage are at a low level. They are still shy when speaking to people outside of their own community. In addition, traditional games such as Kercang are no longer played among the villagers. This situation could affect the eco-tourism potential of the village, which in fact has great prospects to become an important source of income for the community. Therefore, a research team led by Dr. Mohamad Suhaizi Suhaimi took the initiative to enhance communication confidence and to instill appreciation for the heritage of the Orang Asli themselves. Together with students from IIUM, he has shown strong commitment toward realizing this noble objective. A Communication Workshop was conducted, introducing participants to basic conversation skills and proper body language in communication. The participants consisted of adult women and schoolchildren. They demonstrated positive interest in improving their confidence to speak more assuredly in public. Participants interacting in the Communication Workshop In addition, the research team also organized a Kercang game workshop to increase the villagers\u2019 understanding of this unique heritage. Kercang consists of six types: Kercang Pasung, Kercang Kahwin, Kercang Tipah Tertipu, Kercang Dua Lubang, Kercang Gunting,and Kercang Wau. Participants appeared to appreciate this indigenous heritage more deeply and showed great enthusiasm in learning how the game is played. Participants trying out the Kercang game Thus, it is hoped that such initiatives can continue to ensure the sustainability of the Orang Asli community in Malaysia. Support from all parties, including the Government and Private Organizations, is crucial in ensuring that this unique heritage can be preserved and enjoyed by future generations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":6748,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6743"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6753,"href":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6743\/revisions\/6753"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kulliyyah.iium.edu.my\/kstcl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}