The Cheq Wong people speak their own language, Cheq Wong language, which is part of the Northern Aslian languages. The language borrows about 4% of loan words from the Kensiu language, despite these two indigenous people are being separated from a far distance. However, the Cheq Wong language also features a Senoic type of language. High rates of loan words from Southern Aslian languages especially from Semaq Beri language has indicated that, the ancestors of the Che Wong people did came into contact with the Proto-Southern Aslian speakers such as the Semelai people and Temoq people, except the Mah Meri people.
Settlement area
They are originally found in only two areas, namely Krau Wildlife Reserve and Raub District in Pahang. Other Cheq Wong villages are also found in areas including Temerloh and Jerantut District in Pahang. Recent developments have caused the settlement areas of the Cheq Wong people to be exposed to the outside world, logging, roads and an elephant sanctuary for tourism. Some of these developments have led to flooding and pollution of river in their area.
During the World War II, many of the Cheq Wong people were killed by the Japanese army. Which is also one of the factors that led to the small population of the Cheq Wong people. It was during this time, the Malayan Communist Party sought help from them in the Communist's fight against the Japanese army. After the World War II, the area of Cheq Wong people were declared as "black area" due to the presence of the Malayan Communist Party rebels during the Malayan Emergency. The government then informed the Orang Asli concerning the communist rebels for the fear that they are helping the communist rebels. Many of them were killed by the Communist rebels in suspicion of helping the government, while some of them were also attacked by the government military for thinking that they were helping the Communist rebels.
Religion
The Cheq Wong people traditionally adhere to a form of animism that makes distinction between species that possesses ruwai and those that do not. There is even a shamanistic song that refers to the incident of Japanese war planes flying over the jungle during the World War II as ruwai. Similar to the Semaq Beri people's talan and the Temuan people's celau, the Cheq Wong people have a sacred law called talaiden, where any form of transgression including even laughing or teasing committed against any animals is forbidden. Such offenses will result in the punishment of the stormtalaiden, where storms, rain and thunder will be sent as a form of punishment. Another form of talaiden that the Cheq Wong people believe is the tiger talaiden, where an incorrect mixing of foods or things will result with the offender being attacked by a tiger.
Culture
The Cheq Wong people are regarded as one of the peaceful and non-violent groups among the Orang Asli. They have a proverb that says "To be angry is not human; but to be fearful is", where the Cheq Wong people believe in avoiding conflicts and fleeing from dangers as a natural defensive measure. Cheq Wong people practice a form of simple shifting cultivation, as well as hunting-gathering. They are also known for making blowguns and using them for hunting. However the art of making blowguns is threatened as people now go to the market for meat and they no longer need to hunt as frequently as before. They also practice a traditional form of agroforestry by cultivating fruit orchards among existing tree species with minimal damage to the jungle, unlike oil palm estate or commercial fruit orchards owners. This method of orchard cultivating has positive impact on the ecosystem by enriching a variety of flora in the system and providing food for the fauna.
