Aces of the Straits

The Orang Asli Seletars are a small group of people living along Johor’s southern coast facing the Straits of Johor and on the banks of rivers that flow into it. They rely soley on fishing for fish, crabs prawns and the farming of mussels. Some with the appropriate boats take anglers to fishing spots on the Straits and rivers.

Being coastal and riverine people, they love participating in sports and games that occur on water and frequently participate and compete in ‘sukan laut’ or sea sports organized by villages that dot the coast of southern Johor. One of their most passionate sports is powerboat racing which they almost routinely take top honours whenever they compete, and they take every opportunity to compete.

The fiberglass racing boats are powered by modified 15hp engines and are built by the racers themselves. At full tilt, the boats churn the waters of the Straits at speeds of up to 50mph which takes the hull rising and hitting the water quite violently from the speed and raging swirls and waves kicked up by the other speeding boats. Quite a sight.