FORMATION OF SEMAQ BERI CULTURAL ECOLOGY

MODEL IN SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM OF TASIK KENYIR

INTRODUCTION
Human and environment are the two elements that cannot be separated and they
depend on each other. Humans always connect to their surroundings, either their
physical or their social surroundings. This relationship can be defined as followed;
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Human is influenced by the surroundings

Humans influencing the surroundings
Humans and surroundings are influencing each other
Culture becomes the bridge between the humans and the surroundings and
The relationship between humans and the surroundings are too complex
(Resosoedarmo, 2010)
Humans need the nature to fulfil their needs to live. The overview picture of

humans needs on the nature occurs due to the consequences of the human nature
who loves to observe, interpret, reason, translate and review the phenomenon that
happens in the nature. Humans minds able to think of everything that occurs in the
nature. With this ability, humans always try to benefit for the interest of the individual,
community and the nation from their surroundings which is the source of their needs.
Nature stands from different elements, it includes the humans, animals,
plants, rivers, sea, forests, mountains and the earth as the home of humans. Nature
also includes all the process that completes the rules of the nature such as the day
and night formation, rain, hot sun, thunderstorms, the different seasons, flood,
drought, and other nature formations. Through observation, involvement and
experiences, with the whole aspects of the natures, a lot of knowledge will arise
which will be used as the basic to form and to carry on the continuity of a human
community. (Nicholas, 2004).
Through nature, humans learn and create the living style of their own to fulfil
the physical, mental and the spiritual needs. It resulted to variety of ways, mode and
humans living behaviour influenced by the nature (Nicholas, 2004).

The Semaq Beri tribes in Hulu Terengganu are one of those people who have
a strong relationship with the nature. Their strong relationship can be observed
through their life activities that is inseparable from their nature (Ramle, 2001). Nature
and the life of the Semaq Beri traditions are as though united as one. The
relationship that is built with the surrounding nature is not only limited to the physical
aspects, but also the spiritual aspects. For the Semaq Beri tribes, nature is the most
special gift given to them by the supernatural power. Any effort that is being done to
exploit the source of the nature is related to the supernatural power. (Ramle, at.al,
2014).

THE ISSUES OF THE USAGE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE SOURCES

The biodiversity in the surrounding nature is a heritage of a community that must be
handled sustainably and used wisely currently and later preserved for the future
generation. Based on that principle, the issue on the usage and conservation of the
nature especially in the biodiversity has been taken serious by the international
community. In between, on June 1992, the United Nations (UN) conference on the
nature and the development, and later on is known as the Rio Declaration has given
a specific attention on the importance of the nature management and the biodiversity
in the contexts of development and community welfare (Andaya, 2004). The role that
must be played by the different countries to ensure the sustainability on the usage of
the sources, as well as the role of the original people as the partners of the dealings
must also be noted (Yogeswaran, 2007). On the basis of the same spirit and
purpose, this issue is included as one of the items in the United Nations Millennium
Declaration (UNMD) UN 2000 items.
In line with the Rio Declaration and UNMD, many countries have worked in
creating a policy that is clearer and more effective in the management of nature and
biodiversity. For the ASEAN countries, efforts taken for the related work are very
clear. As an example, is the effort taken by Indonesia and Malaysia. In Indonesia, a
more holistic policies have been implemented for the related purposes taken into
consideration the relationship status and the importance of the local community with
the surroundings (Acciaioli & Erb, 2008). This goes the same for every part
(Elviariadi, 2011) and the regions especially the National Park (Acciaioli, 2008). The

same action was also taken by the Malaysian Government. A few policies were
implemented such as the National Policy of Biodiversity 1998 (MOSTI, 1998) (Dasar
Kepelbagaian Biologi Kebangsaan 1998), Malaysian National Policy on the
Environment 2002, (Ibrahim & Sarah, 2011) (Dasar Alam Sekitar Negara 2002), and
the Environmental Management Act 2004 (Shamsudin, 2011). (Akta Kualiti Alam
Sekeliling 2004) Among the objectives of these policies is to ensure the sustainability
of the biology heritage of the unique countries for the importance of the current
generation and the future generation. Before the implementation of these policies,
Malaysia also has the National Forestry Policy (1978) (Revised 1992) and the
National Forestry Act 1984 (Hood & Bettinger, 2008; Dahlan, 2011) whereby the
objectives are almost similar. All the implemented policies play the roles to ensure
management and forest conversation including a steady biodiversity and to ensure
its sustainability.
This issue raised in the international level, has a direct connection with the
lifestyle of the indigenous, especially the natives who depends on the nature for the
daily needs and income. In this context, the natives for sure own multiple significant
knowledge and skills especially those that are related to the sources that are
manipulated for the benefit of their life. In another word, they certainly have a high
knowledge on how to explore the environment to gain the outcome. In relation to
that, they definitely have the knowledge and the mechanisms to ensure the retention
of the sources continuously to the members of the group; now and future.
Based on this issue, the research attempts in explaining a few questions
related to the thinking of the natives from the Semaq Beri tribes who live around the
Lake Kenyir in the context of their relationship with their surroundings and
biodiversity. The focus of this research is related to the conversation of the nature to
fulfil the needs of the current and the future generation.

RESEARCH QUESTION
a. What are the demographical and the cultural characteristics of the Semaq
Beri tribes living around the Lake Kenyir, Hulu Terengganu.
b. What are the thoughts of the Semaq Beri tribes in relation to have forest as
their life background.

c. What are the values of the natures in the life of the Semaq Beri tribes.
d. What are the tradition knowledge of the Semaq Beri in sustaining the nature.
e. What are the attitudes practised in caring for sustaining the nature for the
benefits of different generations.
f. Why sustaining the nature is so important in the life of Semaq Beri tribes.
g. How are the thinking of the inter-generation on the changes of the nature and
socioeconomic.
h. How is the tradition knowledge related to the surrounding nature should
develop the sustainable mechanism and the development process of Semaq
Beri.

OBJECTIVES
a. Explain

the

characteristics

of

the

demographical

and

the

cultural

characteristics of the Semaq Beri tribes living around the Lake Kenyir, Hulu
Terengganu.
b. Explain on the thoughts of the Semaq Beri tribes in relation to have forest as
their life background.
c. Understand the values of the natures in the life of the Semaq Beri tribes.
d. Identify the tradition knowledge of the Semaq Beri in sustaining the nature.
e. Identify the attitudes practised in caring for sustaining the nature for the
benefits of different generations.
f. Evaluate the importance of sustaining nature in the life of Semaq Beri tribes.
g. Evaluate the thinking of the inter-generation on the changes of the nature and
socioeconomic.
h. Implement a model on how the tradition knowledge related to the surrounding
nature should develop the sustainable mechanism and the development
process of Semaq Beri.