Orang Ulu

Orang Ulu means "people of the interior" in Malay. This name was created to talk about 27 small tribal groups living in northeastern Sarawak, Malaysia. These groups are very different from each other. Some have fewer than 300 people and others have over 25,000 people. Altogether, there are about 180,000 Orang Ulu people.

The Orang Ulu people usually live in special homes called longhouses. These homes are decorated with paintings and woodcarvings. They are known for their beautiful beadwork and detailed tattoos. They are also good at weaving with rattan. One special thing about them is their music, especially an instrument called sapes. They also have a traditional dance called Kanjet.

Most Orang Ulu people are Christians, but some are Muslim. Some people still follow the old traditional ways of their ancestors.

Orang Ulu classification

There are about 27 small groups of people called Orang Ulu. Some groups include the Apo Kayan people, like the Kenyah people and Kayan people (Borneo). Other groups are Kajang, such as the Bukitan people and Punan. Apo Duat includes the Kelabit people and Lun Bawang.

Notable people

Some important people from the Orang Ulu group are:

• Baru Bian - Former Malaysian minister.
• Jacob Dungau Sagan - Former assistant Malaysian minister.
• Idris Jala - Former Malaysian Senate and Malaysia Minister.
• Henry Sum Agong - Former assistant Malaysian minister.
• Liwan Lagang - Sarawak minister.
• Tajang Laing - First Kayan teacher and first Orang Ulu Minister in Sarawak, 1970s
• Mutang Tagal - Former President of the Dewan Negara