Young Orang Asli women use short films and social media to voice out issues

A glimpse behind the scenes of 'Selai Kayu Yek', AKWOA’s inaugural short film, capturing the creative process and dedication that shaped their debut project. — Photos: AKWOA

Many Malaysians know of the Orang Asli but may not fully grasp their daily challenges. To address this, a group of young Orang Asli women formed Apa Kata Wanita Orang Asli (AKWOA), creating content to educate the public about their communities and the issues they face.

“Most Malaysians tend to know more about the Orang Asal of Sabah and Sarawak than they do about the Orang Asli communities of Peninsular Malaysia. One of the main reasons behind this is the fact that Orang Asli representation in mainstream media is very low,” says Eliana Tan Beng Hui, 23, programme coordinator of AKWOA.