One calls Orang Laut (" people of the mer" in Malayan) of the Malayan populations which live the islands and Estuaire S of the Archipel of Riau, the east coast of Sumatra in Indonesia and south of the Malayan Péninsule. They live on boats and have a lifestyle Nomade.

Formerly, Orang Laut were pirate. They also played a big role in the rise of the city-State of Sriwijaya in the south of Sumatra, and of the sultanates of Malacca and Johor in Malaysia.

Orang Laut belong to a vaster unit called " Wandering of the sea " ( Sea Gypsies in the literature of English language).

See too

Internal bonds

• Orang Darat
• Moken of Burma

External bonds

• Site of AMAN (alliance of the traditional communities of Indonesia)