I went to visit Batek people at Sungai Bauk village which close to Merapoh. The village is situated about 10 km from the main road after passed few other small villages, rubber plantation, and palm oil plantation. Sungai Bauk village is undoubtedly a beautiful one where it is surrounded by few lime stones. The entry of the village is adorned by Dewan Orang Ramai which currently is not in good condition due to the flood in late 2014.


Dewan orang ramai - community center after the flood in late 2014.

According to the number of houses, the population of Batek people here is relatively small. Despite doing palm oil plantations and rubber plantation, the villagers still practice hunting and gathering.

They are living in a simple house. The traditional houses are relatively small with short pillars to support them. The the house wall are usually made of bamboo or wood whereas the roof was originally made of nipah leaves.

The local government provided some infrastructures such as a road to the village, electricity, tap water, a school, and concrete houses. The concrete houses are seldom being occupied by the villagers. They prefer the traditional ones due to cooler temperature inside of the house.


This small size house is quite common in the village. At the rear view is a concrete house that was built by government. In addition, The black pipe is pipe for water supply which also provided by government.


A bamboo house with metal roof. The gap between the roof and the wall is for air circulation purpose.


A bamboo house with both nipah leaves and metal roofs.


A bamboo wall. The bamboo is untreated and used in simple manner.


A close up of nipah roof of a wooden house.


A concrete house in front of the traditional one. Due to higher temperature inside the house, the Batek prefer to stay in wooden houses.