The Mah Meri tribe, one of 18 indigenous groups in Peninsular Malaysia, has largely been able to maintain their way of life despite the rapid development of the greater Klang Valley.

The tribe, known for their beautiful wood carvings, has been synonymous with Carey Island.

They have inhabited the land since the early days of the Selangor sultanate, and remained there even after it was purchased by a British man and turned into a plantation, which later came under the ownership of Sime Darby Bhd.

But all that may soon change, for Carey Island has been earmarked as the site of a RM200 billion port.

Described as a port-industrial city, the project is expected to span 100 square kilometres - which would be twice the size of Putrajaya.

The proposed 20-year project, which will be able to handle more cargo than both of Klang's North and South ports combined, was floated by the Port Klang Authority last month.

However, the Mah Meri tribe are clueless about the project, other than what has been reported in the media.