Sungai Tekai Indigenous People’s Perceptions On Preserving The Environment With Regard To Health Concerns

Abstract

The concept of preservation of the environment, specifically in relation to health concerns, among indigenous people is still unsatisfactory due to the lack of methods or tools needed to accomplish this aim. This is especially so among the indigenous people living in the Sungai Tekai area which is located in Pahang, a state with a considerable indigenous population in Malaysia. The purpose of this study is to uncover the perceptions of the Sungai Tekai indigenous people on the importance of preservation of the environment. Using a qualitative approach, this study was conducted via observations and interviews from June-August, 2018. The respondents for this study were selected by simple random sampling. The findings revealed that some form of education needs to be implemented for Sungai Tekai indigenous people to protect their environment in order to improve their health status. It appears that using both formal and non-formal approaches, environmental education, with a specific focus on health, should be implemented among this community from an early age to ensure a healthy and vibrant community.

Keywords: Sungai Tekai indigenous peoplepublic healthconservation of environment

Introduction

The indigenous people in Malaysia can be divided into three main groups derived from the 19 tribes (Juli Edo, 2010), each with its own identity and attitudes. The community is divided according to physical appearance, language and customs practiced (Harun & Hamid, 2010). Indigenous people occupy almost 22% of the land surface worldwide but affect nearly 80% of the earth's biodiversity. Indigenous peoples occupy areas as diverse as America, the Amazon, as well as Africa and Asia. 11% of land worldwide is said to be the world's forests and are legally owned by the indigenous people (Sobrevila, 2008).

However, with the rapid encroachment into these areas by the activities of developed and developing countries, the environment is now deteriorating. As a result, more and more diseases have been identified, affecting human health and even leading to death. A World Health Organisation (WHO) (2016) study found that thirteen million deaths each year are associated with environmental factors that should be preventable. WHO (2007) states that indigenous people are more susceptible to health problems than the general population.

Problem Statement

The health of an individual can be affected by the cleanliness of his/her environment. A clean and properly maintained environment will improve the health of a community. Pollution and environmental neglect are not only harm the health of humans but also can be life-threatening. WHO (2016) has emphasised that the environment does impact an individual's health status, depending on how much an individual has been exposed to a source or agent of a dangerous disease. The indirect effect can be attributed to individual involvement in the disrupting the natural balance of the ecosystem, resulting in polluted environments which exposes the community to the outbreaks of diseases. The indigenous people, although considered a minority group in Malaysia, are not immune from issues related to health and the environment. Among the diseases common in the indigenous community in Malaysia are malaria, tuberculosis (TB), dengue, leptospirosis and diseases caused by malnutrition (Utusan Online, 2017). In addition, a total of 51.4% indigenous people in a previous study was diagnosed with a chronic illness (Che Noriah et al., 2012). However, studies looking at the effects of environment on health are rarely done due to financial factors (Remoundou & Koundouri, 2009).

Research Questions

The findings in this paper are confined to only one aspect of a wider study. The main question for this paper is to find out:

What is the level of knowledge of the Sungai Tekai indigenous community about the importance of preserving their environment in relation to their health status?

Purpose of the Study

Public health plays an important role in ensuring the balance of the two elements, namely health and the environment. Remoundou and Koundouri (2009) stated that environment and health are complementary. Public health is a branch of medicine which stresses the concept of disease prevention in the community rather than the individual itself (Novick & Morrow, 2018). The National Center for Environmental Health (2014) has defined the role of public health with regard to the environment as monitoring, diagnosing, informing, mobilizing, developing, enforcing, linking, assuring, evaluating and researching.

Among the branches of public health emphasized in this study is to educate the community to accept changes. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the educational aspect of the preservation of the cleanliness of the environment among the community. However, the lack of knowledge among the indigenous people about the importance of preserving the environment in terms of health outcomes is apparent through their daily practices. It is clear that the Sungai Tekai indigenous community do not prioritise the cleanliness of their environment as evidenced by rubbish strewn everywhere in the community.  For instance, disposable food packaging can be seen dumped indiscriminately along the roads. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to find out the perceptions of the indigenous people in Sungai Tekai of the need to preserve their environment in relation to health outcomes.

Research Methods

This study used a qualitative approach in the process of data collection and data analysis as this is the best approach to observe a phenomenon in depth. The study used primary data collected during field observations and via semi-structured interviews. This study was conducted among residents of Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Tekai, Jerantut, Pahang in their settlement. The respondents were observed for three months, starting from June until August 2018.

Findings

Conclusion

This study has illustrated the lack of awareness of the importance of preservation of the environment, specifically related to the health aspect, among indigenous people of the Sungai Tekai village in Malaysia. The knowledge of the community about the importance of a healthy environment is still very weak. They do not have a far-reaching view of the importance of preserving the environment and the impact on their health. Furthermore, this community has been found to be alienated from their traditional lifestyle and practices. The cultural preservation of the environment bequeathed by their ancestors seems to be misaligned to the development that they have been receiving. The health profile also shows that the majority of the community are afflicted with various health problems, many of which are caused by a dirty environment.

To alleviate this situation, the community needs to be made aware of the importance of environmental impact on health and preservation of the environment particularly from the aspect of health. Therefore, environmental education, through formal education and non-formal approaches should be conveyed to the indigenous community in Sungai Tekai from an early age to make changes easily achievable.

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the Wildlife and National Parks Department and National Power Limited Research ( Tenaga National Berhad ) for providing the opportunity to undertake this study and the funding for this project (GG-2018-006). Appreciation also goes to the Faculty of Education (GG-2018-012) for assistance in terms of the expertise of the researchers and the publication of this article. Special thanks to the Kampung Sungai Tekai indigenous community and all parties directly and indirectly involved for their cooperation.

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