Orang Asli Craft Museum
Kuala Lumpur

Orang Asli Craft Museum in Kuala Lumpur showcases the arts and handicrafts of the Orang Asli people, the aboriginal communities who dwell mostly in rural areas across the Malaysian Peninsula.

The museum explains how there are 18 different tribes of Orang Asli divided into 3 main groups, the Negrito, the Senai and the Proto Malay.

orang asli people in Malaysia

The Orang Asli are famed for their handicrafts, particularly the wood carving skills by the Mah Meri and Jah Hut tribes who like to carve masks and figures and these are highly valued by collectors.

orang asli wooden carvings

These beautifully carved statues were created by the Mah Meri tribe. The one of the left is made from cengal wood and is titled ‘King of the Apes’ and the one on the right is made from nyirih batu wood and is named ‘The Spirit of Lanjut’. 

In addition to statues and masks there are small Sepili figures used in the traditional medicine system of the Jah Hut, blowpipes and ornate bamboo containers for holding blowpipe darts, hunting and fishing traps, musical instruments, native clothing, pouches and containers made from screw pine, rattan baskets and trays, palm leaf ornaments and spiritual decorations and even coffins made from bamboo.

orang asli mask

Review Verdict

This is a small but very interesting museum with material that you won’t see elsewhere except perhaps in the other Orang Asli museum in Gombak. The quality of the carvings is very high. 

Opening Hours and Admission Fee

The museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Closed on the first two days of Eid Al-Fitr and first day of Eid Al-Adha.


Ticket Prices

Malaysian Citizens: RM2 (adult) RM 1 (seniors and disabled). Children age 12 and below are free.

Non-Malaysians: RM5 (adult) RM 2 (children ages 6 -12) and free for below age 6.


This ticket price covers two museums (Malay-World and Orang Asli). No discounts if you only want to visit one!

How to Get to Orang Asli Craft Museum

The Orang Asli Craft Museum is located on the lower ground floor of the Malay-World Ethnology Museum, a dedicated building within the grounds of the National Museum.

It is within walking distance of KL Sentral station (0.5km).


Address: Orang Asli Crafts Museum, Jabatan Muzium Malaysia, Jalan Damansara, 50566 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 603-2282 6255 ext.171

Fax: 603-2282 7294 / 2287 1275

Email: info@jmm.gov.my

Official Website

I have marked the exact location on the map on my Top KL Attractions page.

Nearby

Hotels

There are plenty of fine hotels nearby such as The Majestic Hotel, Hilton Kuala Lumpur and Le Meridian. 

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