Impacts of Resettlements on Orang Asli Community in Sungai Berua, Hulu Terengganu, Malaysia

Various studies on Orang Asli (indigenous people) of Malaysia found that the development and resettlements have benefited them while others found that there are many negative consequences to the socio-economy and socio-cultural of Orang Asli. The inundation of the land to create vast lakes for Kenyir Hiydro electric Dam had forced the government to resettle the Orang Asli into a new settlement in 1977, called Sungai Berua. This paper evaluates the impacts of this resettlement to the Orang Asli 40 years later. Findings show that the after initial problems in the first decade, the Orang Asli are now very satisfied in their new community, especially in terms of physical conditions and improved income.