Behind every celebration, there’s a story worth telling – and Ulu Geroh’s reads like a fairy tale.


Besides being the first native community in Malaysia to rewardingly run a self-sufficient ecotourism project, the venture shows one do not need commercial rhetoric, big budget and touristy gimmickry to stand out from the already crowded holidaymaking industry.


All one needs is the passion to conserve Malaysia’s pristine wilderness. Coupled with great countryside hospitality, it’s no surprise that the place has reeled in hundreds of eco-tourists through villagers’ community effort since 2002.


Semai natives all dolled up for the event


On 12th Oct 2008 recently, Orang Asli threw an anniversary bash to commemorate their foray into ecotourism. Showered with rich traditional fanfare, friends, associates and all parties who have helped in the past were invited and given the opportunity to share the success story. The list of distinguished guests included A.Sivanesan, the Perak state executive councillor, and the top brass and committee members of the Malaysian Nature Society. Everyone was visually feasted by the local Sewang dance troupe that came out tops during the recent Orang Asli tradition dance contest in Sri Iskandar, Perak.


Indeed, the village is full of talents. Besides carving a forte for a style of tourism that brings economical spread to rural community, the project has brought about profound effect in terms of forest conservation.


The mood was much solemn a few months back.


A. Sivanesan, the councilor in charge of environment given a rousing welcome by villagers


When a local public listed company was given concession by the previous government to clear nearby forest for oil palm cultivation, native residents knew something had to be done. Despite recognition being earmarked by United Nation Development Fund (UNDP) as “natural heritage site” and home to rare colonies of Rafflesia Cantleyi and Rajah Brooke Birdwing butterfly, the company went ahead and sent in its logging crew. Local natives staged a protest in Gopeng and the forest tract was finally saved from the saw when a land swap was arranged by councillor A.Sivanesan.


That triumphant episode was another good reason to celebrate. With community-based ecotourism, Orang Asli’s ethnic pride and fighting rainforest loss has taken a refreshing turn.

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Special Notice Oct 2008 – We have finally mustered enough fund to self-host after hitching a ride from wordpress.com for 3 years. For the latest posts, articles and to keep in touch with us, please go to our new site www.outskirtoutreach.org. This “On The Far Side” blog’s contents and posts will diminish as we transfer them to the new one; which is a big big heap of work in the next few months. Thanks everyone for your kind support !

Modernity is sometimes a step backward. And at the turn of 21st century, we all know Mother Nature is taking beatings like never before.


As nature lovers are supposed to do, today we pay tribute to United Nation’s World Environment Day by making personal pledges on reducing wastages and promoting conservation in our own little ways. If you didn’t know, the world’s environmentalists measure individual country’s use of natural resources against nature’s ability to supply and renew these resources in “global hectares” or gha. A footprint of 2.2 gha (Malaysia’s level in 2003), means we exhaust 2.2 hectares of land annually to feed and absorb each citizen’s waste. That’s a lot. We shouldn’t be proud of this.


OK, if the above sounds too wordy to you, for a layman, gha can be understood like this: An Orang Asli native uses very little plastics bags, buys very little commercialise products, has no aircon at home, never take a ride on fuel consuming vehicles and generally produce very little garbage or waste.


Simple life – People who waste very little are good friends of Mother Nature


Everything they use and waste goes back to nature seamlessly. On the flip side, a person who lives in KL drives to work in fuel guzzlers, eat fastfood that’s creates waste for packaging, use lots of papers and electricity in the office, can never live without aircon, shopping and buying things he/she eventually chuck aside after a few weeks, leave the tap running when shaving, wash cars …. and the bane goes on. This simply means an Orang Asli has a much lower gha than a KLite. Low gha is good – got it?


So, how do Malaysia, our home country, compared to other countries? Here’s are some examples ….


United States 9.6
Canada 7.6
Australia 6.6
United Kingdom 5.6
Japan 4.4
Mexico 2.6
Argentina 2.3
Malaysia 2.2
China 1.6
Thailand 1.4
Indonesia 1.1
Burma / Myanmar 0.9
India 0.8
Cambodia 0.7


What’s your personal promise to Mother Nature ? And we don’t mean today. How about making environment conservation a way of life – everyday.

CHARITY WORK in jungle fringed villages takes a lot of dedication – and pure grit.


Hosted by Outskirt Outreach, on 12th April 2008, a group of teachers from Mont Kiara International School, Kuala Lumpur, did their part for the less fortunate by hauling stacks of clothes on backpacks to donate to poor Orang Asli families in Pos Selim and Kampong Geruntum.



Video duration 5 minutes


On that sunny day (oh well, it rained in the afternoon, just when we started to go on foot), the teachers also got to see Orang Asli aborigines’ villagy way of life all laid out in one visit.


We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mont Kiara’s intrepid teachers Miriam Sutorius, Michelle Bliss, Christine Gibbins and Bonnie Lee and spouses for their effort in transfering the clothes, shoes and towels from KL and handcarrying them into the far flung villages. Also, not forgetting, a big pat on the back to all parents who have donated the items. Your kindness is much appreciated.


Cooling off in a hidden waterfall – There’s a funny story behind this picture (below). When the teachers wanted a place to change into swim suits, a local Orang Asli offered his hut. As the ladies cheerfully made a beeline into the bamboo hut, the man nonchalantly finish his small talk with, “… and oh, by the way, don’t disturb the python living on the roof” (??!!).


That parting punchline had everyone screaming and scampering out of the hut in no time. Apparently, the man and his family have been sharing house with the snake for some time. Orang Asli have great respect for wildlife and they view it as a blessing if an animal decides to hang around – in this case, literally – their hut.


Jungle survival rule no.1: Thou shall ask an Orang Asli what kind of housemate pet he keeps before stepping into his home.

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Special Notice Oct 2008 – We have finally mustered enough fund to self-host after hitching a ride from wordpress.com for 3 years. For the latest posts, articles and to keep in touch with us, please go to our new site www.outskirtoutreach.org. This “On The Far Side” blog’s contents and posts will diminish as we transfer them to the new one; which is a big big heap of work in the next few months. Thanks everyone for your kind support !