Aborigines Museum

Welcome to the Muzium Orang Asli, the Aborigines Museum of Malacca. You have journeyed away from the historic, colonial center of the city and arrived in the lush, green district of Ayer Keroh. …

Upon entering the main exhibition hall, we are introduced to the complex demographic makeup of the Orang Asli. The displays here utilize maps, photographs, and historical texts to delineate the three primary groups that form the…

This section of the museum offers a fascinating look at the traditional dwellings of the Orang Asli. Unlike the stone fortresses and heavy timber palaces of the coastal empires, the indigenous architecture of the peninsula is…

We now approach a display dedicated to the most iconic and highly specialized tool of the Orang Asli: the blowpipe, known locally as the sumpitan. In the dense, tangled undergrowth of the Malayan rainforest, the bow and arrow is…

Moving past the weaponry, we enter a gallery focused on the daily domestic life, agriculture, and gathering techniques of the Orang Asli. While hunting provides essential protein, the bulk of the indigenous diet and the fabric of…

This dark, quietly atmospheric section of the museum delves into the profound spiritual life of the Orang Asli. While modern missionary efforts and government policies have introduced Islam and Christianity to many indigenous…

Our final focused exhibit highlights one of the most spectacular and globally recognized artistic achievements of the Orang Asli: the wood carvings of the Mah Meri people. The Mah Meri are a sub-group of the Senoi, living…

As we conclude our tour of the Aborigines Museum and prepare to head back into modern Malacca, it is vital to reflect on the current reality of the Orang Asli. This museum is an excellent repository of their historical…