Genetic, historical and linguistic perspectives on the origin of the Kelantanese Malays / Loo Keat Wei and Gan Siew Hua

The Kelantanese Malays who resided in the remote northeastern regions of the Malay Peninsula in the Kelantan state are believed to have a unique genetic signature. The objective of this review is to analyze the populational sub-structure of the Kelantanese Malays from historical, genetic and linguistic perspectives. Historical data suggest that the Semang were composed of the Jahai, Bateq and Kensiu sub-tribes, whereas the Senoi were composed of only the Temiar sub-tribe. The Mendriq sub-tribe is believed to be the first group of aborigines to land in Kelantan. Subsequently, genetic analysis showed that the Kelantanese Malays are an independent clade at the base of the phylogenetic tree and contain genetic material similar to that of the Semang, specifically the Jahai and the Kensiu sub-tribes. The genetic data are supported by the fact that the Aslian language, a branch of the Austroasiatic languages that is widely spoken by the Semang, was potentially transmitted through agricultural activities. However, the potential limitation of this mini-review is the lack of primary reliable sources covering the historical, linguistic and genetic features of the Kelantanese Malays. •The Semang and the Senoi are known as ‘Orang Asal’ or ‘Orang Asli’ in Malaysia.•Historical data suggested that Mendriq was the first sub-tribe to land in Kelantan.•The Jahai and Kensiu sub-tribes have similar genetic material as Semangs.•Aslian language spread by early agricultural activities is spoken by the Semang.•This review may inspire future evolutionary and personalized genomics researches.