People group profile · PG009290
The Mah Meri of Malaysia
The Mah Meri of Malaysia, numbering about 5,200 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Senoi subgroup of Malaysia's Orang Asli whose ancestors migrated from islands off southern Johor to settle along the Selangor coast and Carey Island, renowned today for wood carvings recognized by UNESCO.
They are an indigenous people in the West Malaysia Indigenous people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Besisi.
Fast facts
- Country
- Malaysia
- Population
- 5,200
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- West Malaysia Indigenous
- Primary language
- Besisi (mhe)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor: coastal areas; islands off the coasts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Mah Meri are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Mah Meri
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Animism · Ethnoreligion
66% adherents
Primary language
Besisi · Austroasiatic family
70% speak Besisi
Gospel resources in Besisi
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not available
- Audio resources not available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Mah Meri
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.