One of the notable SDSI projects involving the IP is the Mah Meri handicraft
industry in Kampung Sungai Bumbun located on Carey Island in Selangor. The
Mah Meri community forms a sub-ethnic of the Senoi, and are well known for their
handicrafts, wood carving and sculptures, weaving and traditional dance. Their
aboriginal sculptures have even attained the UNESCO Seal of Excellence.98
Through the SDSI Programme, participants were given skill trainings and
workshops, while their handicraft products were promoted through various
exhibitions both nationally and internationally which have encouraged further
demand over their traditional products. 99 In addition, the Government opened the
Mah Meri Cultural Village in Kampung Sungai Bumbun that houses, among others,
a museum, heritage gallery and stalls for handicrafts and agricultural products. 100
(b)
Sabah Rubber Industry
Sabah is the second largest State in Malaysia and rich in natural resources. Yet it
remains the poorest State in the Country. Between 2004 and 2012, the incidence of
poverty remained the highest in Sabah compared to the other States in Malaysia. 101
In addition, since 1976, the incidence of poverty in the State stayed above the
national average. 102
98
Ministry of Tourism Malaysia, ‘Deputy Prime Minister Opens Motour Art Gallery’ [Media Release], (Ministry
of
Tourism
Malaysia,
13
September
2012)
<http://corporate.tourism.gov.my/mediacentre.asp?page=news_desk&news_id=717>accessed 29 September
2014; Rohayu Roddin (n 93)
99
Bernama, ‘Pengukir Kayu Mah Meri Diberi Peluang Tonjol Kemahiran di Washington’ (Bernama, 16 March
2010) <http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/bm/news.php?id=482874&cat=tn>; Khairunnisa
Sulaiman,
Produk
Orang
Asli
di
pasaran
Internet’
(Utusan
Online,
03/12/2009)
<http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=1203&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Keluarga&pg=k
e_01.htm>; Siti Aminah binti Mohd Sam et al., ‘Kelestarian Pembangunan Sosiobudaya Komuniti Orang Asli’ in
Persidangan Kebangsaan Geografi & Alam Sekitar Kali Ke 4 , (Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Perak, 5-6
March 2013) <http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/3992/1/KELESTARIAN_PEMBANGUNAN_SOSIOBUDAYA.pdf>; ICU,
‘Garis Panduan Perlaksanaan Program Satu Daerah Satu Industri (SDSI)’, (Jabatan Perdana Menteri, 2012) 8,
12, 13 <http://www.icu.gov.my/pdf/arh_pk/gp_sdsi_2012.pdf>accessed 6 October 2014
100
Bernama, ‘Meh Meri Cultural Village Promotes Unique Culture’ (Bernama, 18 July 2011)
<http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/state_news/news.php?cat=ct&id=602141>accessed 6 October 2014
101
EPU, ‘Incidence of Poverty by Ethnicity, Strata and State, Malaysia, 1970-2012’ (EPU)
<http://www.epu.gov.my/documents/10124/669145a4-1b34-4f04-9043-31b24d1c3442>accessed 31 July
2014
102
Ibid.
28