Page 371 - Proceedings Collega2023

TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE HOMES ARCHITECTURAL
AMONG THE ORANG ASLI BATEK, KUALA KOH, KELANTAN

1
Asmawi IBRAHIM*

1 Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

1
asmawiibrahim@unisza.edu.my

ABSTRACT

The Batek tribe is one of the tribes of the Orang Asli community that still holds fast to the culture
that has been passed down from generation to generation. Among them from the perspective of
residential architecture. Some procedures are given special attention in the process of building a
residential house based on the belief that the occupants will be able to live peacefully and safely.
Therefore, a study has been made to look at traditional knowledge in the context of related architecture.
Purpose: The purpose of the study is; to (i) understand the concept of residential architecture; (ii) know
every process that is carried out in preparing a house and (iii) evaluate the extent to which this knowledge
is still suitable to be practiced in the context of settlement construction. The study was conducted among
the Orang Asli community, the Batek tribe, Kuala Koh, Gua Musang, Kelantan. Method: Qualitative
research methods were used and some of the following techniques were applied to collect data such as
participant observation, interviews, and document review. Results: The results of the study found that
houses among the Batek tribe are called Haya’. From the point of view of the Batek tribe, a house is a
physical unit or a space built to be used as a place for its members to live; provide shelter; as a shelter; a
place to perform a ceremony; as well as space to carry out activities such as resting, sleeping, cooking,
eating and so on. The process of building a residential house is carried out in an organized manner taking
into account the aspects of belief, physical environment, climate and lifestyle. Conclusion: The traditional
knowledge that is practised is also still relevant in the context of the construction of settlements and
residential houses, this is because the residential houses that are built are the result of a very organized
construction process that combines intellectual skills and available resources.

Keywords: Orang Asli Batek, Traditional Knowledge, House Architecture

1. Introduction
Orang Batek is one of the Orang Asli tribes from the Negrito ethnic group which includes other

small tribes such as Kensiu, Kintak, Lanoh, Jahai and Mendriq. They live around the National Park area,
namely in Kuala Tahan, around the Upper Tembeling River, Kechau River and Teluk Gunung in Pahang, Gala
River, Chiku River, Tako River, Lebir River, Koh River, Aring River in Kelantan and Berua River in Besut,
Terengganu (JHEOA, 2002). Their total number is 1447 people, about 0.81% of the total Orang Asli
population in Malaysia country (JAKOA, 2011).

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