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People group profile · PG020227

The Daro - Matu of Malaysia

The Daro - Matu of Malaysia, numbering about 18,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic community of Malaysia.

They are an indigenous people in the Borneo-Kalimantan people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Daro-Matu Melanau.

Pray for the Daro - MatuPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Daro - Matu people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Daro - Matu

Fast facts

Country
Malaysia
Population
18,500
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Borneo-Kalimantan
Primary language
Daro-Matu Melanau (dro)
Primary religion
Sunni Islam
Strategic Progress Index
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
2% or Greater but Less than 5%
GSEC
2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
Lostness priority
Minimally Reached People Group
Region
South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Location
Sarawak: Daro and Matu areas on Matu river from Rejang river north channel to the sea

Where they live

Gospel status

The Daro - Matu are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Daro - Matu

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Sunni Islam · Islam

50% adherents

Primary language

Daro-Matu Melanau · Austronesian family

70% speak Daro-Matu Melanau

Gospel resources in Daro-Matu Melanau

  • 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 Daro - Matu

  1. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  2. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  3. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
  4. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.

Download a prayer guide

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