Knowledge: HAVE you ever used these words? You probably have used them to describe an uncivilised person, someone sloppy, someone ignorant - basically anyone or anything that (obviously) does not bring good perception. Does that ring a bell? Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t. Or maybe it differs in your own mental dictionary, but THIS is just not right.
Why? Because these words are actually names of tribes! (Yes, this is real)
Let’s start with “Jakun”, one of the words that is abused by the majority of people, especially the Malays. Some use the word “Jakun” to refer to someone who is uncivilised.
News flash! Jakun actually represents Peninsular Malaysia’s second largest tribe among the nineteen Orang Asli groups in our country (Joshua Project, n.d.). You can find them mostly in Johor and Pahang. Back then, before the development by Johor's Endau Rompin National Park, the Jakun tribe had made the river and nearby rainforest its home for so many years, but now, their way of living is a cultural attraction for the National Park’s visitors (Latif, 2018). Ironically, the people who use this word to describe someone who is overly astonished (often over something insignificant) are the uncivilised ones.
Next up, and also the last for this entry - because there are so many other words that are considered as slurs and derogatory, meaning we CANNOT USE THEM - is the word Sakai.
We bet you RM10 that you’ve heard or used this word in highschool. This word is often used to describe a selekeh person or a person who acts like they are uncivilised. But did you know that THAT is not the actual meaning of it and why we must not use it thoughtlessly?
It is because Sakai actually refers to a tribe known as Senoi in Malaysia. The Senoi tribe is one of the Orang Asli groups in Peninsular Malaysia (Senoi, 2011). So, the next time you want to talk about a selekeh person, just don’t. Not a good thing to judge them~
To conclude, Jakun and Sakai are nouns, not adjectives (take note!). As Malaysians, we should be aware of why these words can be offensive. To you, they might just be regular words we use on a daily basis, but they carry negative connotations. Say Jakun when you are referring to the tribe, not a "rusa masuk kampung". Sakai should be used to refer to the respective tribe as well, not a messy person.
Be culturally mindful when speaking. NO EXCUSES! Hence why the fifth principle of Rukun Negara, “Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan” is emphasized, so that we could create harmony living among different races in this one small country. Wrapping this up, we remind you to beware of your words. A change has to be done, so let's start from us.
References :
Jakun, Djakun in Malaysia.(n.d.) Joshua Project. Retrieved December 9, 2020 from https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12313/MY
Latif, Z.A. (2018). A day with the Jakun Tribe. Retrieved December 9, 2020 from https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/jom/2018/08/404081/day-jakun-tribe
Senoi. (2011). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 9, 2020 from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Senoi
Proofread by Ilyana Elisa & Illya-Wardina
Published by Muhammad Hadwan & Aisyah Hanim
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