Fishing at the basecamp

Are you into fishing?

Lately, the basecamp has become the centre of fishing activities. One can fish from the basecamp jetty, on the bamboo rafts lining the jetty, charter a boat or at a fish sanctuary(small licensing fee required for a whole day of fishing). The basecamp will prepare packed food for the anglers who charter a boat. We can even send food to those anglers who prefer to fish at a sanctuary about 30 km away from the basecamp. All in the district of Kuala Lipis, Pahang.

The basecamp have seen repeated visitors for this kind of sport, coming from all over the country. Whatever your fancy, do contact us for any fishing trip.

Banana business to resume...

Bananas for Klang Valley

Organically-grown bananas of various species grown in Pos Betau is set to go places once again after it stopped last year.

It was made possible when PERKAS arranged for a weekly buyer for the goods from the Klang buyer starting 31st January this year. The buyer, so happy with the deal, even contributed some funds for the upkeep of the Surau. On our part, we are just happy that the trade continues for the Semai. We shall continue to seek economic activities for the Semai from time to time.

What a year it has been...!

2011 has been a very meaningful and fruitful year for PERKAS.  In a very short time, PERKAS has managed to do the following with a handful of volunteers and limited sponsorship:

1. Secured sponsorship to hire 2 Ustaz (both Al-Azhar graduates) to run Islamic classes since 25th April 2011 for FREE at the Al Falah surau in Pos Betau, K.Lipis, at the request of the Muslim community there. They never had one since the country gained Independence in 1957! More than 28 free classes were conducted last year.

The 1st class started in April 2011 and has continued until today

2. Taught more than 50 Semai about Islam, while having to turn down a request from a Primary school to teach them too. Insyallah, we will try to raise funds for this group this year.

3. Secured sponsorship to feed them with halal breakfast and lunch every week after classes since April.

Halal breakfast and lunch was served every week, prepared fresh by Ecolife Basecamp

4. Managed to get the support of Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to help refurbish the run-down Pos Betau surau and equipped it with PA system.

The government assisted with the refurbishment of the Al Falah Surau

5. Secured sponsorship to teach the Semai about Haji and ran a free intensive lessons for them.

6. Secured sponsorship to send 4 of them to perform the Haji - a first for the Semai community in Pos Betau since Independence.

Off to perform the Haj

8. Organised their 1st ever breaking of fast for the Semai community for the whole month of Ramdhan thru' the sponsorship of ANGKASA.

Breaking of fast with the Semai

Terawih prayers were held for the 1st time ever for the Semai Muslim community

9. Gave away Hari Raya money during the month of Ramadan, courtesy of Masjid Taman Melawati, K.L.

Raya packets for the Semai

10. Distributed countless used clothes, books, bags, shoes and crockery sets  to the Semai community since April, and has continued until today.

Used clothes for the Semai

11. Distributed free sarongs, mini telekongs, prayer mats, copies of the Holy Quran and Yassin from well wishers.

12. Managed to secure a permanent Muslim burial plot for the community from the State Government.

13. Managed to teach the Semai the basic skills in soap making with  the help of Sunway College.

Soap making class

14. Sponsored 6 of the Semai to learn the finer trade of Tapioca Chip making in Sepang - thanks to FAMA.

At the Tapioca Chip factory, Sepang

UKM student program

Students trying the blowpipe

15. Attract various visitors to the place, including Universities and government departments , as another tourist destination with its various attractions such as Sewang dance, cooking demo, blow pipe shows, fishing and bamboo rafting.

Sewang ritual dance

16.Helped organise and distribute business grants to the Semai community with the help of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

Recepients of the 1AZAM Grants

17. Arranged a visit to Pos Betau for the motorbike brigade of the Malaysian Police Force's Community Policing programme.

Pahang Chief Police astride his 1300cc bike, leading the convoy

18. Helped produced a TV documentary for TV Hijrah (aired twice this year).

19. Helped initiate a Cooperative movement for the Semai - KOBETAU

The 1st meeting organised by ANGKASA which played a leading role in getting the Coop moving

This year will see more development at Pos Betau with the involvement of FAMA, a university cooperative movement among others, that will see further progress of the place, insyallah.

Open Monkey Zoo...

Tired of seeing Darwin's cousins behind bars?

Open Monkey Zoo...

Tired of seeing Darwin's cousin behind bars? Why not watch them in their natural habitat?

Long-tailed Monkey (Monyet)

Pig-tailed Macaque (Beruk)

Lethal Weapon

The blowpipe arsenal. (From left) darts packed in a small basket; the blowpipe.

The blowpipe. A traditional hunting weapon of the Orang Asli. Its 'bullets' came in the form of darts tipped with poison from the Ipoh tree.The real blowpipe can be as long as 2 meters and is highly accurate to about 10 meters. It is especially effective to hunt small preys like the squirrel, birds and even monkeys.

A 130cm replica of the blowpipe, complete with darts in a small basket of the Semai tribe can be yours for RM150.00 while stock last. Otherwise, a month's grace is necessay to make another replica.

Off to perform the Haj...

From Left: Laila, Ustaz Rajawali, Ustaz Izam, Nor Adilah during an ANGKASA gathering a few weeks ago.

Semai grandma Laila Abdullah, & grand daughter Nor Adilah Mohd Abdah will be flying off to perform the Haj tonite, 9.45pm , 11th Oct to fulfill her dreams she has been waiting for more than 20 years. She will be accompanied by Ustaz Izam & Ustaz Mohd Rajawali, who will also perform the Haj after tutoring grandma Laila for the past 3 months on a one-to-one basis in Pos Betau. All were sponsored by kind individuals, making the 2 Semai the 1st from Pos Betau to perform the Haj in their history.

We wish to thank all sponsors and well wishers for making this historic event a success.