Graceful moves: Performers dancing during the grand Christmas celebration in Kg Orang Asli Sungai Temon in Johor Baru. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: It was a grand Christmas celebration with cultural performances, food and prizes during an open-air event held in an Orang Asli village next to the Straits of Johor here.
A public car park in Kg Orang Asli Sungai Temon here was transformed with a huge tent and stage adorned with Christmas trees for the grand celebration, which attracted some 600 people, including Orang Asli from at least five villages statewide.
This seaside village, which is famous for its Orang Seletar community, is well known among locals and Singaporeans for its fresh seafood produce and floating restaurants on stilts.
Besides locals, some Singaporeans and foreign nationals also joined in to sing Christmas carols and listen to a Christmas message by Johor Baru Calvary Community Church (CCC) senior pastor Jonathan Chandra.
Its Tok Batin (village head) Salim Palun, 66, described the celebration as a great success, with many locals and foreigners turning up.
“Our villagers chipped in to cook seafood, including clams, fish and crabs, for our visitors who turned up.
“It was a lively event which ended almost at midnight, with singing and dancing as well,” he said of the Tuesday evening event, adding that the village has about 400 people who are mainly fishermen and those rearing fish, prawns and kupang using nets.
He said he was happy to see everyone having a good time.
“In the past, we did it in a hotel or restaurant, but this time, because we expected more people, we decided to have it open-air in the village,” he said, thanking the church for its collaboration in organising the event.
For 55-year-old Juah Besar, who drove about three hours from Bekok in Labis to attend the event, it was a good time to meet friends and relatives.
“It was such a grand celebration, and my family and I enjoyed the performances and Christmas service,” he said, adding that he was from the Jakun native clan.
Meanwhile, for performer Irene Carlynna Salim, 19, preparations for the celebration started almost a month ago.
“I have been taking part in Christmas celebrations since I was young and have played many roles. This time I am playing the role of an angel.
Meanwhile, Jolet Duwin, 49, and Rahmat Yem, 31, who were tasked with food preparation, said that some 30 volunteers helped to prepare food for all the guests.
“Our restaurant will be closed for five days for Christmas, and we took the opportunity to help prepare some 150kg of crabs, 40kg of fish, 20kg of mussels and 50 chickens,” they said, adding that all visitors were given packed food.
Meanwhile, American Samantha Binakoulaki, 55, who was among four Americans visiting the village to help teach conversational English to Orang Asli children for two weeks, enjoyed the performance and service.
“We are part of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) known as Global Volunteers, and we are having so much fun in this village.
“The people are so friendly, and the children here are smart too,” she said, adding that this would be her first Christmas away from her family in Minnesota.
Meanwhile, Pastor Jemiko Tagong from CCC Sutera said the celebration had brought together everyone in the community, with people taking on various roles to make the event a success.
“We had many young people volunteering to take on roles in the celebrations. This is a good community event,” he said, adding that besides residents from Sungai Temon, there were Orang Asli from Simpang Arang in Gelang Patah, Telok Jawa and Teluk Kabung in Pasir Gudang, Pasir Salam in Ulu Tiram and Air Papan in Mersing.
He added that such celebrations were a good way for people to get to know the Orang Asli better, as most of them were shy and introverted and did not mix with outsiders.
“To see them sing, worship, dance and mingle with people brings about a lot of joy and hope for this community,” he said, hoping that the celebrations would continue to attract more people and expand each year.
