Shadow of RM200b port city hangs over Carey Island's Mah Meri tribe

The Mah Meri tribe, one of 18 indigenous groups in Peninsular Malaysia, has largely been able to maintain their way of life despite the rapid development of the greater Klang Valley.

The tribe, known for their beautiful wood carvings, has been synonymous with Carey Island.

They have inhabited the land since the early days of the Selangor sultanate, and remained there even after it was purchased by a British man and turned into a plantation, which later came under the ownership of Sime Darby Bhd.

But all that may soon change, for Carey Island has been earmarked as the site of a RM200 billion port.

Described as a port-industrial city, the project is expected to span 100 square kilometres - which would be twice the size of Putrajaya.

The proposed 20-year project, which will be able to handle more cargo than both of Klang's North and South ports combined, was floated by the Port Klang Authority last month.

However, the Mah Meri tribe are clueless about the project, other than what has been reported in the media.

As they celebrated their annual Hari Moyang, which has become a tourist attraction, the fate of their ancestral land, as well as whether there would be any more Hari Moyang in future, lingers on their mind.

Uncertain about their future

“Many of us have heard talk about the development. We heard that a port is going to be built here and that we all would have to move out.

“Our culture would also have to change if we are made to leave,” said a handicraft maker who goes by the name Masmay.

Malaysiakini was at Pulau Carey for Hari Moyang, a celebration of the Mah Meri's ancestral spirits that they believe protect their land.

The Sungai Judah village celebrated the birthday of one of its guardian spirits, which fell on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year (Feb 1).

It is one of five Mah Meri villages on Carey Island and near Sungai Pelek.

The ceremony has been held on a specific beach on Carey Island for generations, and according to Daiman Pron, one of Pulau Carey’s village elders, plans for the port city encompasses their ceremonial site.

“I am a fifth-generation Tok Batin (village leader) and I am 57 years old. This ceremony has been held on this beach for at least five generations,” Daiman said.

He said he only knew about the plan to build a port on Carey Island after reading about it in the newspapers.

“I understand that this beach is not considered an Orang Asli reserve, but as far as I know only we celebrate Puja Pantai (Sungai Judah’s beachside Hari Moyang festival) within Malaysia,” said Daiman.

Groundwork for port being laid

Mah Meri Cultural Village director Rashid Esa said the groundwork for the port city was already being laid.

Rashid said the Selangor government had reached out to determine which areas on Carey Island are considered sacred sites and are of value to the Mah Meri people.

Meanwhile, Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) coordinator Colin Nicholas (photo) believes that the Mah Meri people will either be displaced or resettled in an area further away from their traditional lands, possibly in a much smaller area.

“There's a need for them to get together, get organised, get more information and get the people empowered and aware,” said Colin.According to Muzium Pribumi, there were 1,149 Mah Meri people on Carey Island in 2007 and this population has since increased.

Daiman says that there are 473 people in his village alone.

Most of the Mah Meri people do not know much about life outside of their Island and depend heavily on its natural resources.

Masmay relies on the natural agriculture on the island to make her crafts, and her husband also has a farm on the island.

She is worried about their future if they are forced to move away from all that they have.- Mkini