PETALING JAYA: Most of the nation’s Orang Asli communities have fond recollections to share of Dr Adela Baer, portray her as extra of a buddy than a scholar.
Identified to her shut pals right here as “Dee Baer”, the American geneticist obtained a Fulbright scholarship to conduct analysis at Universiti Malaya in 1967.
The endeavour noticed her go to many Orang Asli communities, together with the Mah Meri at Pulau Carey, Jah Hut in Pahang and Temuan in Bukit Manchong, Selangor.
“She had a really constant love and concern for the Orang Asli,” mentioned Colin Nicholas, founder and coordinator of the Heart for Orang Asli Considerations (COAC).
Nicholas met Baer within the early ‘90s by way of her curiosity within the Orang Asli. He later helped her publish three books. In a single, she analysed their basic well being, highlighting diseases and illnesses that are simply treatable if the Orang Asli are given larger entry to medical companies.
The Orang Asli misplaced a devoted supporter when Baer, aged 92, died on July 17 at a retirement house in San Diego.
Nicholas mentioned he would keep in mind her as a beneficiant and empathetic scholar who at all times needed to do extra for the Orang Asli.
“I would like the general public to recollect her as a pioneer in Orang Asli well being analysis, and as an individual who didn’t simply use Orang Asli for her analysis however developed a relationship with them,” he informed FMT.
In 1971, Baer spent a year-long sabbatical with the Temuan folks in Ulu Serendah, Selangor.
“The Temuan folks keep in mind her with nice fondness,” mentioned Amani Williams-Hunt, often known as Bah Tony, an Orang Asli activist-lawyer who labored intently with Baer in her analysis.
Williams-Hunt mentioned Baer built-in herself so deeply into the villagers’ lives that she took the time to study their language and was impressed to publish a complete Temuan glossary.
“She was very involved about recording the Temuan language and ensuring it doesn’t disappear into oblivion,” Williams-Hunt informed FMT.
Baer returned to Ulu Serendah within the early 90s and gave the Temuan two picture albums containing footage of villagers she had lived with in 1971. They have been mentioned to have been overjoyed with the present.
“It’s a small gesture from her perspective, however for the households who by no means had data of their dad and mom or grandparents, it was a really large transfer,” mentioned Nicholas.
After her keep in Ulu Serendah, Baer continued to go to Orang Asli communities round Malaysia for greater than a decade.
Her analysis introduced her to East Malaysia in 1999, the place she supplied comparative well being info on the Orang Asli and Sarawakian rural ethnic teams.
Sadly, Baer’s deteriorating well being prevented her from making additional visits to Malaysia. Her final go to was in 2002, when she visited the Temuan in Ulu Serendah for the final time.
Regardless of her sick well being, Baer insisted on supporting the Orang Asli by donating to organisations that serve to learn the indigenous folks in Malaysia.
Her daughter mentioned she had as a lot love for the Orang Asli as her circle of relatives, mentioned Nicholas.
