Senoi - Orientation

Identification. The criteria used to classify people as "Senoi" are inconsistent. "Senoi" generally refers to peoples who speak Central Aslian languages and subsist by means of swidden agriculture. These include the Semai (central Sakai), Temiar (north Sakai, Temer, Ple), and Jah Hut (south Sakai). Also included are the Che Wong (Beri Chuba) ; the Semelai, former South Aslian speakers who now speak an Austronesian language; the Semoq Beri; and the Btsisi (Mah Meri, Besisi, Betisek). The language criterion is used inconsistently with these groups. Excluded are the Lanòh, Semnam, and Sabum classified as Semang, although they speak Central Aslian. In this summary, "Senoi" is used in the cultural sense to include the Che Wong and Semelai and exclude the Btsisi peoples whom the Malaysian government has only recently pressured into agriculture.

Location. Most Senoi live in rain-forested mountains and foothills of the Main mountain range, which bisects Malaya from north-northwest to south-southeast. Temiar inhabit south Kelantan and northeast Perak; Semai inhabit northeast Pahang and southeast Perak. The other four groups are in south-central Pahang. Government programs are encouraging the rapid clearing of the forests covering the steep slopes.

Demography. Official 1983 figures listed 18,500 Semai, 1,300 Temiar, 2,500 Jah Hut, 200 Che Wong, 1,800 Semoq Beri, and 3,000 Semelai. The Senoi consititute less than 0.5 percent of the Malaysian population. Rapid Senoi population growth and the loss of traditional lands have led to overcrowding in several west Semai settlements. Men outnumber women in all age groups, perhaps because of the number of deaths in childbirth.

Linguistic Affiliation. Senoi languages are classified in the Aslian Branch of the Austroasiatic Family: Che Wong is North Aslian; Temiar, Semai, and Jah Hut are Central Aslian; and Semelai and Semoq are South Aslian.