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The traditional practice of chewing betel, once deeply rooted in the culture and identity of the Orang Asli community, is gradually fading among the younger generation, particularly those living near urban areas. Kuala Betis Block A Resettlement Scheme (RPS) village head Rodzi Asod noted that this practice is no longer commonly observed among the elderly in his settlement, leading to younger generations not being exposed to the tradition.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Rodzi Asod mentioned that in the 1980s, the Orang Asli community widely practised betel chewing, but today, there are no elderly residents in Kuala Betis who still chew betel. He explained that betel chewing is usually passed down through generations, with grandchildren following the practices of their grandparents, but times have changed.

Meanwhile, Pos Gob Orang Asli Village Security and Development Committee (JPKKOA) chairman, Hady Liman, noted that residents in several interior settlements, such as Pos Gob, Pos Simpor, Pos Belatim, and Pos Balar, still consume betel as part of their daily routine. He shared that they chew betel at least twice a day, adding that the taste can be varied using natural ingredients like snails to prepare the betel mixture, along with sliced 'kalog' stems and kacu leaves as additional ingredients.

Hady Liman highlighted the belief that betel chewing provides various benefits, including strengthening teeth and helping individuals stay alert and energised while working. Deputy dean of student affairs and alumni at the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Dr Mohamad Hafis Amat Simin, expressed concern that the traditional practice risks disappearing if not continued by the young generations.

Dr Mohamad Hafis pointed out that the location of settlements greatly influences the continuity of betel chewing practices. Communities like RPS Kuala Betis, which interact extensively with outside communities, are seeing a decline due to migration and environmental changes, such as logging and the development of oil palm plantations and durian orchards, making betel ingredients increasingly difficult to obtain.

He observed that in the Lojing Highlands, some members of the Temiar tribe, particularly the elderly, still practise betel chewing, unlike younger people who have largely abandoned the tradition due to lifestyle changes, employment in the tourism industry, and migration to urban centres such as Kuala Lumpur. According to Mohamad Hafis, communities living in remote interior areas still have easier access to natural betel resources because forest exploration remains limited there.

The anthropology and science researcher emphasised that efforts to pass down the practice to younger generations are vital not only to preserve a habit but also to safeguard the community's cultural identity, collective memory, and traditional knowledge. He remarked that w hile the possibility of betel chewing declining exists, its future as a symbol of cultural identity will depend on how the indigenous community continues to preserve and reinterpret this heritage for future generations.