The Taman Negara rainforest is said to be the oldest rainforest in the world. It was the first park of any type in Malaysia. The oldness of the area is due to its southerly location which left it untouched by the ice ages and the glaciers. Thus, the forest is thought to be 130 years old. (About Malaysia Parks, Chapter 1, "Taman Negara: The National Park", pp. 1-29)

"There is evidence that during the period of the Middle Stone Age (about 8,000 to 2,000 bc), Mesolithic people lived in rock shelters and caves in the limestone hills of the Malay peninsula." (Malaysia, "History: Beginnings", p. 25.) These people are thought to have been the ancestors of Negrito aborigines and now are known as the Semang and Jakun peoples.

Around 2,500 bc, proto-Malays migrating from today's Yunan province in China, possessed higher technologies and weapons that the Negritos and forced them into the hills and mountains. Around 300 bc the Deutero Malays brought iron tools and weapons and are the most immediate ancestors of today's Malaysians.

"Through trade, the early inhabitants of the Malay peninsula were exposed to earlier civilizations. Located as the convergence of two major sea routes linking the great markets of India and China, the peninsula was convenient stop-over for Indian ships travelling further east." (Malaysia, "History: Beginnings", p. 25.)

Visitors to the park stay in a hostel with 8 beds per dorm. "Most people go to Taman Negara for jungle treks, fishing and boat trips along virgin jungle rivers where you can picnic and swim. The more adventurous can trek up Gunung Tahan, the highest mountain in east Malaysia", at 2187 meters or 7174 feet. (About Malaysia Parks, Chapter 1, "Taman Negara: The National Park", p. 1.) It is actually the sixth highest mountain in Malaysia, but the top five are all on the island on Borneo, in the provinces of Sabah and Sarawak.

The park headquarters "is at Kuala Tahan, a small river-side settlement on the edge of the part...Kuala Tuhan is the site of the Taman Negara Resort, a 15-acre area, containing accommodation (chalets, hostel and campsite), restaurant and provision shops. Immediately across the river from the resort is a small village with or accommodations for visitors and two floating restaurants.

About 44,000 visitors come the resort each year. (About Malaysia Parks, Chapter 1, "Taman Negara: The National Park", p. 3?.)

3. Related Cases

25. Culture:

The hotel was owned by a large corporation and employed government- certified forest "agents", who were non-native to the area but received some training. Across the river from the hotel were four floating restaurant's that served a variety of Malay and Chinese foods. Strangely, the most expensive fish was that which came from the river's waters directly underneath us. In one respect, I was relieved to see that the local fish was so expensive. At lunch on the floating restaurant on the river we always watched the river after we order. One several occasions after ordering chicken dishes we noticed a trail of entrails and skins floating by prior to the arrival of our meal but after the order was taken.

At the downstream slot of four floating restaurants was "Won's". Won, the father, smoked cigarettes and drank tea or coffee all day. His son, also known as Won, was in charge of the restaurant. Won was also a small-time businessman in the area and had traded products with an ancient people who lived in the park called the Orang Asli.

Won the son was also our guide to the Orang Asli. Since he traded with them, for products such a rice and cooking utensils, Won had developed a relationship with the tribe. Won the son ran his own unsanctioned tours even though he was in competition with legal tour guides. The "legal" tour guides, government employees, had less knowledge of the area since they rotated in and out. Won had lived here all his life.

Won took us upstream from the site in a motor boat with a refreshing spray of water. Where a small creek emptied into the river we saw some children and women swimming and bathing. We walked past them and hiked a short distance inland up a hill.

Won walked into the village and said something to a women I thought could be an African. She went off and brought back an old men in a cap that said "England", a pair of slacks and a t-shirt but no shoes. The chief inherited his position but in some sense can be voted out of offense for malfeasance. He has nine children and wants another, but his wife refuses and tells him to find another wife. I offer him cigarettes and he never refuses. Won says that they all smoke and indicates that the child, perhaps 5 years old, would like a cigarette. This, I could not do.

There were 11 families in the grouping but there seemed to be a population explosion, perhaps aided by the government health workers and regular visits.

The village was laid out in a spiralling out ring, starting with some key structures or homes. In general, they do not cut wood or kill animals except for direct consumption use. They are permitted by law to kill an elephant although monkey is probably to most consumed meat. Outside some roots they ate and some leaves they smoked, monkey was a major food item along with various birds, tapirs, some fish that are caught by hand at the river in the roots of enormous trees, and surely some reptiles here and there. I noticed bags of rice that probably were bought from Won.

One interesting note was that I asked almost everyone I encountered if they had heard of or seen a computer. In fact, Won had to describe a computer, calling it a television with a keyboard.

The number of the tourists to the park have doubled in five years and it shows. The first tour we went on was a "Night Walk" to see wildlife (not free). On the trip 10 insects were found (including tarantula, huntsmen spider, millipede, walking stick, a cicada and a green and brown grasshopper. In the time we saw the 10 insects we also saw 50 tourists.

This particular group of Orang Asli, or "original people", are known as the Batek. The orangutan is known in Malay (or Bihasa) as the "forest people". "Bi-yoong" is the chief of the Batek and talked to us and smoked my cigarettes. He was part of a dynastic chain of chiefs. Each year the chief of each Orang Asli tribe travelled to Kuala Lumpur to meet with government officials and discuss policy. Most importantly, it was where the tribes learned the amount of government assistance they would receive in the upcoming year. Bi-Yoong liked the trips because he was especially fond of air conditioning.

Bi-Yoong was about 5 feet tall and wore trousers and a tee shirt, with a hat that said "England". The tribe stayed in one place until three things occurred.

1. Death in the Tribe

2. Attacks by Wild Animals

3. Lack of Resources

One of the young men in the village had gone to school and could speak some Bihasa and English and learned a little Japanese from tourists. He had a notebook of corresponding words he studied.

Most homes were largely pole structures with palm leafs roofs, some of the houses had plastic coverings. In the camp were a few metal knives and axes, align with an occasional pan and kettle. Lines of clothes hung out to dry and it appeared that only a few women owned or wore bras and these were the highest in stature in the tribe.

26. Trans-Boundary Issues:

27. Rights:

28. Relevant Literature

Annual Report 98, Malaysia Timber Council, Kuala Lumpur, 1999

Malaysia, "History".

Malaysia's Green Attractions, Malaysia Timber Council, Kuala Lumpur, no date (received 1999).

Star, Kuala Lumpur, July 11, 1999