Tunku Azizah Graces World Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration

PEKAN, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah graced the Pahang-level World Indigenous Peoples' Day 2024 celebration at Sekolah Kebangsaan Permatang Keledang here today.

Her Royal Highness was welcomed upon arrival by Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), director-general Datuk Sapiah Mohd Nor, before being presented with a traditional sewang dance by the Orang Asli community of Pekan.

Tunku Azizah also took the opportunity to engage with the Orang Asli, whom she affectionately referred to as ‘orang kita’ (our people).

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"When I was young, my late father (Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail) would bring me to their villages in Johor, so from a young age until I got married, I’ve always felt comfortable mingling with‘orang kita.'

"I also learned a lot about their cooking, which I find to be the healthiest because they don’t use much oil, and they only boil or grill their food," she said.

At the event, Tunku Azizah, who enjoys cooking, also prepared Orang Asli dishes, including smoked meat cooked randau-style and dry fried seluang fish.

She also took time to watch a futsal match, visit booths selling various handicrafts, and distribute food baskets to the heads of households in Kampung Permatang Keledang, here.

Pahang has the largest Orang Asli population in Peninsular Malaysia, with 95,382 individuals recorded, divided into three main ethnic groups - Senoi, Proto-Malay, and Negrito.

-- BERNAMA