Exploring the food consumption patterns and gender roles among the Semai in Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

The Orang Asli is a term commonly used to describe one of the indigenous people in Peninsular Malaysia. The Semai, a subgroup of the Orang Asli, remain reliant on the rainforests for wild edible plants and wild game for their nourishment. As such, this research was conducted to identify the food consumption patterns and gender role allocation regarding hunting and gathering practices among the Semai. A total of 24 informants from three villages were interviewed for this research using both semi-structured interviews and participant observation methods. The findings show that the Semai consume rice, cassava, wild edible plants and wild animals based on their geographical location. Gender allocations can be observed in all three villages where the men hunt wild animals and the women gather wild edibles. The findings of this study may provide insights into Semai food culture and contribute to the development of culturally appropriate nutrition programmes and interventions for this community.