KUALA LUMPUR: There seems to be an awakening among the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia over rights long-denied to them as evidenced by the large turnout of protesters in Putrajaya.
More than a thousand of them, from various indigenous groups, converged in the sweltering heat of Putrajaya to protest against the government's unfair land policy.
Despite a large police presence, they marched to the Prime Minister's Department to hand over a memorandum signed by more than 9,000 Orang Asli.
But the historic event was not without its moments as authorities attempted to divert and diffuse the rare show of unity.
Jenita Engi of the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns said: “The Orang Asli were very uncomfortable with what happened yesterday.
"They noticed something amiss when they were asked to go to the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development to be treated to free meals.
"It was an attempt to dilute the show of our strength. We did not come to be lectured by these officials but to hand over a memorandum to the PM's Department.”
Jenita, herself a Temuan, said she was told that the government would bring up the issues contained in the memorandum before Parliament at its next session in June.
The memo opposes the government's move to go ahead with a new policy to grant land to Orang Asli. The policy was adopted by the National Land Council in December.
Jenita said the new policy allowed the government to divide Orang Asli land into sections of 2–6 acres without taking into account how Orang Asli put land to multiple uses.
Also, if land disputes arise, the Orang Asli are not allowed to take it up to the courts, thus denying them legal restitution, she said.
UN rights of indigenous people
The Orang Asli, Jenita said, were not consulted before the government's new policy was adopted. It also violates the articles contained in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, which Malaysia ratified twice.
The Orang Asli centre also chided the government for ignoring traditional practice in which land is handed down from generation to generation.
The new government policy also dictates that any development on the land was to be carried out by third-party developers who, Jenita said, often did not have the Orang Asli's interest at heart.
The Orang Asli have well-established and properly defined territories and boundaries in which 20 different needs are fulfilled, including space for crops, cemeteries and holy ground.
Implementing the National Land Council's policy would upset these territories and create conflict among the various Orang Asli groups, said Jenita.
The Orang Asli want the government to recognise their rights over these lands and that they be compensated for land which has been absorbed into Malay Reserve Land or given to companies, organisations, societies or individuals.
The Orang Asli comprise 18 sub-ethnic groups generally classified for official purposes under Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Malay. The term itself meaning “original people” or “first people” was introduced by anthropologists and administrators. Orang Asli represent a mere 0.5 percent of Malaysia's population
FMT
18/03/10
More than a thousand of them, from various indigenous groups, converged in the sweltering heat of Putrajaya to protest against the government's unfair land policy.
Despite a large police presence, they marched to the Prime Minister's Department to hand over a memorandum signed by more than 9,000 Orang Asli.
But the historic event was not without its moments as authorities attempted to divert and diffuse the rare show of unity.
Jenita Engi of the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns said: “The Orang Asli were very uncomfortable with what happened yesterday.
"They noticed something amiss when they were asked to go to the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development to be treated to free meals.
"It was an attempt to dilute the show of our strength. We did not come to be lectured by these officials but to hand over a memorandum to the PM's Department.”
Jenita, herself a Temuan, said she was told that the government would bring up the issues contained in the memorandum before Parliament at its next session in June.
The memo opposes the government's move to go ahead with a new policy to grant land to Orang Asli. The policy was adopted by the National Land Council in December.
Jenita said the new policy allowed the government to divide Orang Asli land into sections of 2–6 acres without taking into account how Orang Asli put land to multiple uses.
Also, if land disputes arise, the Orang Asli are not allowed to take it up to the courts, thus denying them legal restitution, she said.
UN rights of indigenous people
The Orang Asli, Jenita said, were not consulted before the government's new policy was adopted. It also violates the articles contained in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, which Malaysia ratified twice.
The Orang Asli centre also chided the government for ignoring traditional practice in which land is handed down from generation to generation.
The new government policy also dictates that any development on the land was to be carried out by third-party developers who, Jenita said, often did not have the Orang Asli's interest at heart.
The Orang Asli have well-established and properly defined territories and boundaries in which 20 different needs are fulfilled, including space for crops, cemeteries and holy ground.
Implementing the National Land Council's policy would upset these territories and create conflict among the various Orang Asli groups, said Jenita.
The Orang Asli want the government to recognise their rights over these lands and that they be compensated for land which has been absorbed into Malay Reserve Land or given to companies, organisations, societies or individuals.
The Orang Asli comprise 18 sub-ethnic groups generally classified for official purposes under Negrito, Senoi and Proto-Malay. The term itself meaning “original people” or “first people” was introduced by anthropologists and administrators. Orang Asli represent a mere 0.5 percent of Malaysia's population
FMT
18/03/10
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