Mah Meri - People of Carey Island

The Mah Meri are an ethnic group native to western part of Peninsular Malaysia. The Mah Meri (Mah meaning people and Meri meaning forest), originally known as the Besisi, also call themselves Ma Betisek, which means, "people with fish scales". The Mah Meri is one of the nineteen Orang Asli people groups of Peninsular Malaysia. They are officially classified under Senoi subgroup.
Living in small wooden houses set in harmony with the surrounding forces of nature, the Mah Meri prefers to remain as "forest people." Hence in their villages, life seems relatively untouched by modern progress. They are known for their woodcarving skills, yet their economic activity remains rooted in agriculture and fishing. They resist employment outside of their community.The Mah Meri are soft-spoken and trusting with a propensity to laugh in the face of adversity. While the adults carry out their daily economic activities, the children often ride their father's bicycles and play their favourite games with sticks, seeds, and other objects. Surprisingly, the Mah Meri community has managed to preserve a tradition of spiritual woodcarving that is truly world class in terms of quality of its craft and artistry. The art, which has rich mythological meanings behind the images and symbols, is handed down from father to son. The Mah Meri believes that humans, plants, animals, and even inanimate objects possess spirits, which interact with the daily lives of the Mah Meri. In earlier times, woodcarving of characters or moyang masks and figures from folk stories were used in spirit huts and left in the jungle, as offerings to the forest forces. All Mah Meri agree that the mythological characters are supreme. They believe some of the moyang influence health, illness, and healing. Their main festival is the Day of the Ancestors where offerings and rituals are made to their ancestral spirits. 
The physical needs of the Mah Meri are many. They are poor, lacking in proper health care and clean water. They live in dilapidated houses, and their children have very little chance of receiving a proper education. One of them, Diaman Bin Kisah is 50 years young, was born and raised in Kg. Sg. Bumbun.
I was initially drawn to the façade of his house, which was surrounded by Bougainvillea plants, trees, butterflies and the chirping of birds besides a plethora of cats, dogs, and chickens along with baby chicks! As I walked around the house, I realised that he has his workshop at the rear of his house where he does his carvings. One would definitely be impressed with the quality of his array of finely crafted wood carvings, especially ‘spirit masks’, a subject which he holds close to his heart.
Hailed from a traditional native arts wood carving family, Diaman is happily married and a proud father of ten, all of whom has taken on the responsibility of carrying on with his family’s tradition. His wife passes her time by weaving mats made from Mengkuang leaves. It is through his creativity that he now solely earns a living through the sale of his very own hand-made woodcarvings. Diaman, who is a traditionalist, has chosen not to abandon his native and cultural roots. To choose life as a wood carver is not easy, as natural talent MUST first exist in the chosen individual to produce good work.
The wood sculptures are a cultural heritage of the Mah Meri and have been extremely popular with foreign tourists who visit the country, as well as with art collectors, locally and from abroad.