Discovering the ‘others’ who make Malaysia what it is
Faye Lim travels across the country to document the stories of small communities whose identities have long been buried under the catch-all category.
When social activist Faye Lim first encountered the terms Kelabit, Kiput, Dusun Tatana, Melanau, and Tabun a decade ago, she was left wondering who these groups were. This encounter took place during a combined celebration of the Kaamatan and Gawai festivities in Sabah and Sarawak, where she met people who introduced themselves by names of communities she had never heard of.
Faye, known as Faye Lim, admitted feeling ashamed upon realizing there were so many communities and ethnic groups in Malaysia she was unfamiliar with. This sparked a journey for her, using art, food, and culture to connect with people from diverse backgrounds through the Rojak Projek. Through this initiative, she created portraits of Malaysians using traditional food such as onde-onde, laksa, and nasi lemak, which helped broaden her understanding of Malaysia's diversity.
Over time, Faye documented information on more than 250 ethnic and sub-ethnic groups in Malaysia. Her efforts led her to Sarawak, where she received a grant from the Gamuda Foundation to trace and document the cultures of Orang Ulu communities. Through her journey, she discovered that many Sarawakians were also unaware of these small communities. By sharing their stories, Faye aimed to raise awareness and encourage appreciation for these often-overlooked groups.
For Faye, the existence of a community should never be dismissed based on its size, especially when they face the risk of losing their heritage. Many younger generations have migrated to cities, leaving older members as the last custodians of their customs and culture. By documenting these communities, Faye and her team sought to preserve their unique identities and ensure their stories are shared with a wider audience.
Faye believes that understanding the country itself requires getting to know its people and their diverse backgrounds. "We are what makes Malaysia what it is," she emphasized, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and appreciating the country's rich cultural tapestry.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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