[PHOTOS] The Orang Asli behind nearly a million lemang bamboos for Raya cheer

KUALA LUMPUR – Many may not know how difficult it is to get natural bamboo to make lemang, a must-have traditional Malay delicacy during Hari Raya.

From the entire process of identifying the best bamboo stems in a forest, to that of cutting, pruning and taking each one out to be sold, it takes not only considerable experience but also substantial physical strength.

For Aras Jumi Basarudin, an Orang Asli youth of the Temuan tribe, finding lemang bamboo during the Hari Raya season is a necessary task that he undertakes without fail every year.

In fact, he does it not only during the festive season, but also on regular days. Aras Jumi looks for bamboo suitable for cooking lemang with to sell in small quantities.

This year the demand was a bit “excessive”, as only a few weeks before the arrival of Syawal, Aras Jumi and his team managed to sell more than 800,000 lemang bamboo pieces to be distributed around Selangor and also parts of Perak.

According to him, this is because the country has now entered the transition into the endemic phase of Covid-19, which has resulted in the freer movement of people that has allowed lemang traders to reopen their businesses.

Aras Jumi said that in a day, he can sell between 100 and 150 lemang bamboo at RM1.50 to RM2 per stick, depending on the size.

He explained that all the lemang bamboo produced are placed at a collection centre in Kg Orang Asli Ulu Batu, Ulu Yam where buyers converge, and also from where it is distributed to areas around Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Perak.
 
The Vibes’ photographer, NOOREEZA HASHIM recently joined Aras Jumi to explore the verdant Ulu Batu forest in search of the prized lemang bamboo, and watched how it was processed to bring joy to thousands of Raya merrymakers. – The Vibes, May 9, 2022