Information and communication technology and cultural identity preservation among the Jahut community in Kuala Krau, Pahang, Malaysia

In this digital era, being a part of the digital society is inevitable, including among the indigenous people. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has gradually evolved into a necessity for all members of society in this information era. The pervasiveness of ICT in almost every aspect of human life has significantly altered the way people communicate with one another. There have been an increasing number of studies in recent decades about indigenous people's adoption or non-adoption of ICT, but surprisingly only limited empirical studies addressing the role of ICT in preserving indigenous cultural identity, particularly in Malaysia. ICT is deemed a double-edged sword to the indigenous culture, as it has always been labelled as innovations which embedded with foreign values that eroded the local culture; on the other hand, it plays a significant role in enhancing the preservation of endangered indigenous culture. This is crucial to be explored as many indigenous communities in Malaysia are facing the threat of losing their cultural identity through various means such as being assimilated into mainstream society, can ICT be a beneficial instrument for cultural identity preservation to enhance the indigenous’ cultural survival, or is it merely a rhetorical thought? A qualitative case study was employed to explore the ICT adoption and its influence on cultural identity preservation amongst the Jahut community in Kuala Krau, Pahang, Malaysia. Specifically, this study aimed to (i) to explore the current challenges faced by the Jahut community in cultural identity preservation, (ii) to describe the views of the Jahut community towards the compatibility of ICT adoption for cultural identity preservation, (iii) to examine the Jahut community’s adoption of ICT for cultural identity preservation, and (iv) to examine the influences of ICT adoption on the Jahut community’s cultural identity preservation. Eleven informants who participated in this study met the selection criteria and were recruited through purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and nonparticipants observation. Thematic analysis is used to analyse the data of the study. Firstly, the findings of the study demonstrated that modernisation, assimilation, leadership and community’s attitudes are the main challenges for the cultural identity preservation among the Jahut community. Second, the findings showed that the Jahut community perceived that in-person cultural transmission cannot be displaced but viewed ICT as vital tools that could enhance their cultural identity preservation if being utilised effectively. Third, the findings revealed that despite expanding access to ICT and the growing use of them yet challenging to effectively use them for cultural identity preservation as there are some major factors hindering the adoption of ICT for cultural identity preservation among the Jahut community such as poverty, lack of ICT infrastructure, insufficient ICT skills and knowledge, and cultural taboos in the transmission of indigenous knowledge. Finally, the findings suggested that the influence of ICT adoption on cultural identity preservation including language revitalization, preservation of traditional knowledge and community building. This study is significant because it illuminates the social changes that have occurred among the indigenous communities, thereby contributing knowledge in the socio-cultural context to the field of community development, where the existing literature focuses primarily on economic development. The findings of the current study are in line with the Identity Process Theory, as the penetration of ICT in Jahut’s everyday activities generates changes in Jahut long-practiced traditional lifestyle, they engage with ICT as coping methods in the face of societal change. The study also provides better understanding on the symbolic meaning of technology by exploring the ways in which ICT conveys a variety of meanings to the Jahut community in various settings of interaction. The community members who perceive ICT as a part of new culture that has been integrated with their tradition will adopt ICT as a mean for cultural identity preservation. In terms of practical implication, the findings of the study will be beneficial to policy makers, the community, researchers, and non-governmental organisation in their attempts to implement and manage ICT initiatives among the indigenous communities in Malaysia. It is hoped that this study will be valuable for assessing National Culture Policy, particularly those aimed at promoting ICT adoption and cultural preservation among citizens, without marginalising any ethnic groups and reducing the digital gap.

Text 122561.pdf Download (1MB) Official URL or Download Paper: https://ethesis.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18611

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