Traditional Orang Asli arts
The moyang harimau berantai (tiger in chains spirit
The traditional arts of the Orang Asli are derived from their animistic beliefs and rituals. The objects they produce from wood, pandanus, rattan and bamboo, as well as their music and dance, are created for ceremonial or practical purposes, but constitute works of art, in that they are often beautifully decorated, painstakingly carved, and highly polished. The destruction of the Orang Asli’s natural rainforest habitat and the relocation of some groups have affected the availability of raw materials used for these crafts, with a resultant decline in some art forms.