THE Seletar tribe derive their living from seafood, which they travel in rowboats across the straits in Johor to catch.
But it has been hard for the sea gysies, as they are known, to make ends meet as development, including reclamation, takes place in the state.
“Before the reclamation, it was easy to catch as seafood but nowadays there are times we return home with little to show for our efforts.” said Lety, 61.
Today the Seletar people rely on mussel farms for an income but since the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for mussels has decreased, forcing the villagers to take odd jobs to survive.
They are also expected to be displaced as their village is due to make way for development.
They hope the government will have sympathy for them and create policies to allow them to continue their way of life. – March 19, 2022.
A man rows a boat near the beach where reclamation is taking place, in Kampung Sungai Temon, Johor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, March 19, 2022.Seletar folk build a bridge in Kampung Sungai Temon in Johor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, March 19, 2022.Seletar men at the harbour at Kampung Sungai Temon in Johor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, March 19, 2022.A Seletar man docks his boat at a mussel farm at Danga Bay in Johor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, March 19, 2022.Irene Salim, 16, at a mussel farm near the Sungai Temon village at Danga Bay in Johor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, March 19, 2022.A Seletar man resurfaces after collecting mussels at Danga Bay in Johor. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, March 19, 2022.Dogs guard a mussel farm at Danga Bay in Johor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, March 19, 2022.Seletar people pack mussels for sale to a wholesaler at Danga Bay in Johor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, March 19, 2022.Mussels and clams are displayed for sale at the market in Kampung Bakar Batu in Johor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, March 19, 2022.Seletar people gather to chat and trade news at a grocery store at Kampung Bakar Batu in Johor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, March 19, 2022.
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