Social empowerment and sustainable livelihood strategies to enhance the rural economy for Orang Asli Temuan communities in Mukim Tanjung Duabelas, Kuala Langat District, Selangor

The sustainability of the Temuan Orang Asli community in Kampung Orang Asli Bukit Cheeding and Pulau Kempas, Mukim Tanjung Duabelas, Kuala Langat District heavily relies on short-term self-employment, agricultural work and the collection and sale of non-timber forest products.

Therefore, long-term strategies are imperative to empower them and diversify their sustainable livelihood programmes that will lead to a more resilient socioeconomic status.

Global Environment Centre (GEC) and Yayasan Hasanah have joined forces to focus on empowering and building the capacity of the Temuan Orang Asli community towards social entrepreneurship. This initiative aims to enhance, scale-up and incorporate value-added components to the existing livelihood options as well as development of new livelihood options at their villages, including a full-scale implementation of Indigenous Village Tourism Package (IVTP) and operationalisation of Temuan Culture Information Centre (TCIC).

Additionally, the project also aims to capitalise the cultural, natural and environmental educational tourism potential of the nearby Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR) by developing interpretive trails within the reserve.

It is designed to achieve result-oriented outcomes that enhance the livelihood options of the Temuan Orang Asli community, aligning with the Selangor State Government and JAKOA Selangor’s effort to enhance the living standards of Orang Asli in rural settlements and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 15 (Life on Land), respectively.

Objective:

To empower the Orang Asli Temuan community of Mukim Tanjung Dua Belas via capacity development, livelihood enhancement and diversification of economic prospects.

Key activities:

• Support the operation of Temuan Culture Information Centre (TCIC) at Kampung Orang Asli Pulau Kempas and develop activities and products for visitors.
• Implementation of Indigenous Village Tourism Package (IVTP) including development of new facilities at Kampung Orang Asli Pulau Kempas and Bukit Cheeding.
• Support the livelihood enhancement activities at Kampung Orang Asli Pulau Kempas and Bukit Cheeding.
• Development and establishment of interpretative trail in Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR).