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Death of the Dragon God Lake: Voices from Tasik Chini, Malaysia
Death of the Dragon God Lake is a family ethnography focusing on the Jakun of Tasik Chini, Malaysia, and their contemporary struggles. The Orang Asli West Malaysia's indigenous people - comprise only 0.6 percent of the country's total population, and within this group, the Jakun of Tasik Chini number around 500. While recent decades have seen efforts to 'modernise' them, this official spin cloaks the denial of Orang Asli self-determination and the concurrent damage being done to their traditional land. As part of their condensed ethnography, the authors conducted interviews and field discussion groups, observed the adults and children living around Tasik Chini, and gathered information about their lives today and how they compare with the recent past. The lake is polluted, the children unable to swim in it as their parents did, and the natural beauty of the surroundings has been eroded, having an impact on tourism as well. With awareness of their position as foreign anthropologists, the authors examine the contradiction between the authorities' and indigenous narratives, and reveal the efforts made by Tasik Chini community members to improve their situation on their own terms.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2017
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June 1, 2023
The Naga is considered to be the guardian of Tasik Chini, its protector. We were told that every year someone would see the Naga, especially in terms of its transformation as snake or stones, but this has now stopped. They do not know where the Naga has gone and believe it may still be there but no longer emerges to see the people because it is angry, upset or injured by what is happening to the lake area. The people still believe in the Naga and its protective force, but they have not seen it. The patang is being broken by mining and logging, industrialists destroy the Nagas places, and the Naga is angry and does not show itself. The impact of the Naga no longer being seen by the people is profound. There is a deep sadness expressed in the telling of the stories that underpin the people's anger and distress at the despoliation of their lake and land. Indeed, the intimate connection between people (Jakun), place (Tasik Chini) and protector (Naga) enables the wounding of the land to be likened to a rape, a ravaging of the land.
- Naga Sri Gumum, The Dragon God and the origins of the Jakun Tasik Chini : Death of the Dragon God Lake - Voices from Tasik Chini, Malaysia by Sara Ashencaen Crabtree, Jonathan Crabtree Parker, Isabel Crabtree Parker and Miranda Crabtree Parker
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A misleading title, i would say. I came solely for the voices from Tasik Chini, Malaysia. I did not expect in order to get to that PARTICULAR part, i have to read 80 pages of research ethnography, ethics and literature review of the supposed research that ultimately leading to the major content. Its not that i don’t appreciate the researchers struggle in writing and researching the subject matters but the book title could have placed “A study” or “A research on Tasik Chini” - then i would’ve expected that it would be written in the given format. When i read the title, my mind went straight to ‘memoir’ or ‘compilation of essays’ if that makes sense but maybe because of my preconceived idea how the book supposed to be written ; hence i have to acknowledge the fault is all mine. That being said : it’s hard to imagine how magnificent and glorious Tasik Chini was before the pollution from mining and logging either legal permitted by government or illegal by illegal loggers , before the mining, before the dam was being built, before all the outside interference. The book was published in 2016, my best friends and i visited Tasik Chini in the early of 2018, which despite the sign of abandonment and not being managed properly, we were astounded by its beauty. It was raining, but despite the risk of getting a fever, we decided to just “fuck it” and accepted the offer of one of the boatmen there that wanted to bring us around the lake. Luckily, the rain stopped in the middle of our journey and we were able to spot some lotuses and some fishes here and there (which for the life of me i couldn’t find where did i keep my photos). You can swipe next to see some videos and photos we got during the journey in the post. This is also one of the reasons i was intrigued by this book and wanted to read it once i came across it in the bookstore. Unfortunately, i was disappointed by the book. While i was waiting for ‘the real voices of orang asli’ - it was overshadowed by 80% of the researcher’s children observation ; how they communicated, played and even the way they carried themselves among these ‘Orang Asli’ community. I am not dismissing all of the contents - i did learn some of the imperative issues highlighted in the book , how government failed to protect the indigenous community despite having JAKOA to oversee it. Oftentimes JAKOA acted as the gatekeepers (not in a good way) and in its passive aggressive manners, forcing the assimilation and embracing urbanisation among the community rather than preserving their way of life. Tasik Chini which has long been the shelter of ‘Jakun’ tribes - where their livelihood depends on it witnessed the massive changes once the Dam is completed. The number of fishes dwindled, the level of water is increases and the pollution is severe due to few government buildings nearby did not have proper sanitation systems thus the lake become the dumping ground. What’s worse, the livelihood of the indigenous tribes is being threatened and even the tourism jobs that were promised by the government eventually went to Malay communities that lived nearby rather than Orang Asli themselves. UKM efforts to get the Tasik Chini recognised in 2009 as Malaysia's first Unesco 'biosphere reserve’ should be applauded except when it comes to the empowerment of the people that lived closely with the lake was being ignored. Even some of the remarks shared by Orang Asli in the book - they don’t even trust UKM and outsiders due to some actions were perceived as manipulation and exploitation of their community. In 2022, it was reported that Tasik Chini no longer meets UNESCO criteria despite its rehabilitation efforts. An unfortunate fact that we Malaysians have to accept. The book also featured series of Analyses on Orang Asli specifically that lived nearby Tasik Chini on their way of life, educational background , employment and income status, land rights and societal functions. I do appreciate insights and suggestions from the researchers but i think they really need to tone down their ‘westerners saviour complex’ whenever they make a comparison of how indigenous community in Australia, New Zealand and other countries that has been mentioned in the book. They also keep on hinting that traditional lifestyle is the way to go for this indigenous community which i think the sentiment that fits better if it came from Orang Asli themselves. Overall, i would have suggested this if you are interested on the research of Tasik Chini and it’s relationship with the Orang Asli Community that has been living there years ago until now. However, if you wanted to read solely just to immerse yourself in the memory of what Tasik Chini looks like before and after the dam , mining and logging, you are only going to get it at the minimal description.
.
- Naga Sri Gumum, The Dragon God and the origins of the Jakun Tasik Chini : Death of the Dragon God Lake - Voices from Tasik Chini, Malaysia by Sara Ashencaen Crabtree, Jonathan Crabtree Parker, Isabel Crabtree Parker and Miranda Crabtree Parker
.
.
A misleading title, i would say. I came solely for the voices from Tasik Chini, Malaysia. I did not expect in order to get to that PARTICULAR part, i have to read 80 pages of research ethnography, ethics and literature review of the supposed research that ultimately leading to the major content. Its not that i don’t appreciate the researchers struggle in writing and researching the subject matters but the book title could have placed “A study” or “A research on Tasik Chini” - then i would’ve expected that it would be written in the given format. When i read the title, my mind went straight to ‘memoir’ or ‘compilation of essays’ if that makes sense but maybe because of my preconceived idea how the book supposed to be written ; hence i have to acknowledge the fault is all mine. That being said : it’s hard to imagine how magnificent and glorious Tasik Chini was before the pollution from mining and logging either legal permitted by government or illegal by illegal loggers , before the mining, before the dam was being built, before all the outside interference. The book was published in 2016, my best friends and i visited Tasik Chini in the early of 2018, which despite the sign of abandonment and not being managed properly, we were astounded by its beauty. It was raining, but despite the risk of getting a fever, we decided to just “fuck it” and accepted the offer of one of the boatmen there that wanted to bring us around the lake. Luckily, the rain stopped in the middle of our journey and we were able to spot some lotuses and some fishes here and there (which for the life of me i couldn’t find where did i keep my photos). You can swipe next to see some videos and photos we got during the journey in the post. This is also one of the reasons i was intrigued by this book and wanted to read it once i came across it in the bookstore. Unfortunately, i was disappointed by the book. While i was waiting for ‘the real voices of orang asli’ - it was overshadowed by 80% of the researcher’s children observation ; how they communicated, played and even the way they carried themselves among these ‘Orang Asli’ community. I am not dismissing all of the contents - i did learn some of the imperative issues highlighted in the book , how government failed to protect the indigenous community despite having JAKOA to oversee it. Oftentimes JAKOA acted as the gatekeepers (not in a good way) and in its passive aggressive manners, forcing the assimilation and embracing urbanisation among the community rather than preserving their way of life. Tasik Chini which has long been the shelter of ‘Jakun’ tribes - where their livelihood depends on it witnessed the massive changes once the Dam is completed. The number of fishes dwindled, the level of water is increases and the pollution is severe due to few government buildings nearby did not have proper sanitation systems thus the lake become the dumping ground. What’s worse, the livelihood of the indigenous tribes is being threatened and even the tourism jobs that were promised by the government eventually went to Malay communities that lived nearby rather than Orang Asli themselves. UKM efforts to get the Tasik Chini recognised in 2009 as Malaysia's first Unesco 'biosphere reserve’ should be applauded except when it comes to the empowerment of the people that lived closely with the lake was being ignored. Even some of the remarks shared by Orang Asli in the book - they don’t even trust UKM and outsiders due to some actions were perceived as manipulation and exploitation of their community. In 2022, it was reported that Tasik Chini no longer meets UNESCO criteria despite its rehabilitation efforts. An unfortunate fact that we Malaysians have to accept. The book also featured series of Analyses on Orang Asli specifically that lived nearby Tasik Chini on their way of life, educational background , employment and income status, land rights and societal functions. I do appreciate insights and suggestions from the researchers but i think they really need to tone down their ‘westerners saviour complex’ whenever they make a comparison of how indigenous community in Australia, New Zealand and other countries that has been mentioned in the book. They also keep on hinting that traditional lifestyle is the way to go for this indigenous community which i think the sentiment that fits better if it came from Orang Asli themselves. Overall, i would have suggested this if you are interested on the research of Tasik Chini and it’s relationship with the Orang Asli Community that has been living there years ago until now. However, if you wanted to read solely just to immerse yourself in the memory of what Tasik Chini looks like before and after the dam , mining and logging, you are only going to get it at the minimal description.
.
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