Selangor: Around 5,000 visitors are expected to enliven the Orang Asli Cultural Festival in conjunction with the Selangor-level 2025 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples celebration, which will be held on August 9. State Executive Councillor for Human Resources and Poverty Eradication V. Papparaidu announced that the festival, set to take place at Kampung Orang Asli Kelinsing in Sepang, aims to recognise and celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions of the Orang Asli community.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the event reflects the state government’s commitment to empowering the Orang Asli in cultural, educational, economic, and social aspects. One of the primary objectives of the festival is to promote the identity and cultural heritage of various Orang Asli ethnic groups, such as the Temuan, Mah Meri, and Semai. It also seeks to position Orang Asli villages as cultural and eco-tourism destinations in Selangor.

The festival aims to raise public awareness of the rights, history, and challenges faced by the Orang Asli community. It provides platforms for empowerment in the fields of arts, handicrafts, traditional cuisine, and entrepreneurship. Papparaidu highlighted these goals during a press conference at the lobby of Wisma Negeri Selangor.

Papparaidu shared that statistics indicate there are over 20,000 Orang Asli individuals in Selangor, residing in 74 villages across seven districts. Each village maintains unique cultural practices, including Sewang and Jo’oh dances, Mah Meri wood carvings, and ancestral rituals rich in traditional values. Additionally, the Orang Asli community in Selangor has achieved notable successes in education, the arts, and advocacy, including international recognition for the Mah Meri community of Carey Island.