Orang Asli Leader Questions Poor Representation In Aboriginal Law Talks

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The government’s approach to reforming indigenous legislation has come under fire, with Parti Orang Asli president Rashid Ka’ criticising what he sees as inadequate representation of his community in discussions about amending the 70-year-old Aboriginal Peoples Act.
He said that only eight Orang Asli community members were involved, out of 70 people who were invited to discussions and engagement sessions.
“The rest are not Orang Asli,” Rashid told Malaysiakini.
On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that he chaired a meeting about amendments to the Act.
In a statement, the rural and regional development minister said the amendments are aimed at improving the Act, which has not undergone any substantive changes since it was first enacted over 70 years ago.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid HamidiThe meeting that day discussed the issue of Orang Asli land, Zahid added.
He said over 1,000 engagement sessions have been held so far, with the attendance of an undisclosed number of tok batin (village chiefs) as well as representatives from the federal and state governments, NGOs, and academia.
‘Nobody knows what’s being amended’
Commenting further, Rashid expressed concern over the lack of transparency regarding the amendments, saying that nobody knows yet which sections of the Act are being changed.
He also questioned the government’s motives for amending the Act, asking whether other relevant legislation that affects the Orang Asli will be amended at the same time.
Rashid also urged the government to expand its research into the indigenous people of other countries to include those of Taiwan, Canada, and Australia.
“In these countries, (the indigenous people there) have their own ministries and the indigenous people are the ministers,” he said.
He also expressed worries that the amendments will further erode Orang Asli land rights.
He claimed that even now, there are state governments - specifically naming Kelantan - that ignore court decisions over the matter.
“There are several court cases that the Orang Asli won, but the state government is not exactly acknowledging it.
“They give all sorts of excuses, saying (things like) it’s not in the Kelantan state enactments,” he said.
In May, Zahid announced that amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act will be tabled in Parliament later this year.
According to Bernama, he said that engagement sessions and discussions held on the matter included a wide range of stakeholders, such as the Orang Asli community and NGOs. - Mkini

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