The Mahmeri Scuplture Heritage In Malaysia: An Exploratory Study

The indigenous people in Malaysia comprises of three main ethnics groups whom are Semang-Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Melayu. The indigenous people are minority in Malaysia, while Mahmeri is one of the tribesmen of main ethnics group of Senoi. This tribesman could only be found in Selangor and they are famous as statue and mask sculptor. There are a total of 640 characters of mask wood from the creative work of Mahmeri tribesman in Carey Island which is based on a story of the suffering of their ancestors tulah whom had violated the customs and social ethic and behaviour, human and nature relationship. This study is to investigate the sculpture value and significant on Mahmeri today. This is instigating by the changes of their thinking, beliefs and customs due to the effect of modernization and globalization.