Semangs people of Malay Peninsula

Semangs are commonly known by the racial term ‘Negrito’. The Semangs of Malaysia were traditionally nomadic hunters and gatherers. They wander in small groups of twenty to thirty and depend for food on roots, stalks, leaves, fruits, insects and fish.

The Semangs are found in a broad arc running form foothills of the northern West coast across the peninsula along the Thai border and then down strip between the coastal plains and the mountains on the East coast.

Semangs are generally found in river valleys, building their shelters close to the river banks, a pattern also displayed by Proto-Malay communities.

The term ‘Semang’ appears to be of Malay origin and has come to be used by anthropologist to refer to the Negritos whole by hunting and gathering, although the term is not so restricted by the Malay.

The Thai sometimes call them khon pa, ‘forest people’ a term that finds a parallel in the orang bukit or orang liar, used sometimes by the Malay.

Semang are speakers of the North Aslian sub-branch, which includes the languages of Batek, Batek Tanum, Batek Nong, Kensiw, Kintaq, Jahai, Mendriq, and the a various Meniq peoples of South Thailand.
Semangs people of Malay Peninsula