Lojing: Eighty per cent of the Orang Asli community in Kelantan continue to hold firmly to their traditional customs and beliefs, despite rapid modernisation and technological advancement, said Kelantan National Department of Culture and Arts (JKKN) director Rohaniza Abdullah.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, a study conducted by the department found that the community was proud of its cultural identity and had begun leveraging social media platforms to showcase its uniqueness to the outside world. Rohaniza noted that the community had preserved their customs across generations up to the present day.

Rohaniza stated that the strength of the community lies in its ability to preserve its culture and identity in today's modern world. Interestingly, young Orang Asli have used social media as a platform to introduce their heritage. The research conducted by JKKN has opened the eyes of many to the strong social and cultural values still upheld by the Orang Asli community, she told reporters after the Penyemarakan Komuniti Budaya @ Komuniti Orang Asli programme at Pos Brooke, Lojing, here today.

She mentioned that there were still many unique aspects of the Orang Asli community that had yet to be explored or were not widely known, which JKKN aimed to share with the public. As such, the two-day programme focused on showcasing the uniqueness of Orang Asli culture through artistic performances, traditional games, and heritage food.

Rohaniza highlighted a cassava grating competition using rattan roots as one of the programme's highlights, showcasing a traditional technique passed down through generations. She explained that by turning it into a competition, they are indirectly introducing the younger generation to their own culture.

She added that such programmes were among the key initiatives undertaken by the department to preserve the cultural heritage of the Orang Asli community for future generations to appreciate.