Reinventing the Wheel
The Orang Asli (OA) have suffered for too long, with scores of people taking advantage of them on the pretext of helping them.
Without doubt, our OA are poor and marginalised. For centuries, they lived in isolation along the jungle fringes because of persecution by various people. In the 18th and 19th centuries, warring Malays invaded their villages to kidnap the women and children for slavery.
Aboriginal Peoples Act
The British abolished slavery but OA welfare was again sidelined, as they were convenient subjects in anthropological study. Later, in the Emergency, they helped hunt the communist insurgents. In 1954, the Aboriginal Peoples Act was formed to protect the OA and their lands.
With the formation of Malaysia, a programme of integration and assimilation started in 1961. As the Act only covered certain ground rules, the tendency was to regard the OA as wards of the government. Unwittingly, their culture, identity and culture were slowly being eroded.
In addition, they discovered that the Act failed to recognise their rights to their own land. Alarmingly, it was the state that had the final say in their land matters. This gave rise to dissatisfaction involving land possession, displacement, resettlement and even choice of crops for cultivation. To make matters worse, a form of social engineering was being practised with their definitive social structure being dismantled and conversions into Islam being encouraged.
OA Taskforce
In 2008, an Orang Asli Taskforce was formed by Pakatan Rakyat, when they were in power, to help resolve issues of the OA community in Perak. In appreciation of the technicalities and complexities associated with OA land matters, they appointed a legal advisor, with long involvement, both at grassroots level and legal issues pertaining to the OA. The objective, for the band of independent experts making up the Taskforce, was to formulate a comprehensive solution for OA problems in Perak (and possibly Malaysia). This proceeded well, but before the Taskforce could implement its aims, the PR government fell.
OA Development Advisory Committee
Then, in January 2010, Perak’s BN Mentri Besar Datuk Zambry formed an Orang Asli Development Advisory Committee. Many wondered if this was in addition to the original Taskforce or just another name for it. Although not exactly shrouded in secrecy, neither was much information made public about it. Some questions were raised if the new members had any tangible knowledge, expertise and feel for the true nature of OA problems. Why reinvent the wheel when the original taskforce could have been mobilised at a moment’s notice?
When contacted, a member of the original taskforce was disappointed that none of them had been asked to offer their input, and claims that by overlooking them, “speaks volumes of what the current committee intends to achieve”. They maintain their emphasis on the best possible solution for OA issues.
OA Land Issues
Crucially, the OA existence, identity and well being, centres on land. Customary land claims must be recognised. So, if Zambry is genuinely concerned, meaningful solutions can be found, if his committee is formed from a mix of honest, independent people with integrity. Without this proviso, the future well-being of the OA will be compromised.
The OA have long held the view that they are rarely consulted in matters that affect them, are unable to exercise their full rights and are subject to intense discrimination. Many will be left wondering if the new Orang Asli Development Advisory Committee will have the appropriate composition of people with adequate expertise and independence to help them.
If left unsupervised and unregulated, the danger is for an unscrupulous land grab by the very people who should be protecting the Orang Asli. And that would be tragic.
YAM
Category: Letters from Ulu Kinta
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The Orang Asli are a vital part of our cultural landscape. They are a historic people sidelined by ‘mainstream development’.
The Orang Asli were displaced by the arrival of other cultures, their traditional land usurped and its natural resources exploited. Sure, we wouldn’t be where we are if not for that development. Yet, they have traditional ‘jungle skills’ which we would do well to learn. Some 50% of our land remain under jungle. Given a choice, would you go into the jungle without their guide?
It may take more than political will to bring the Orang Asli into mainstream society. Those who have successfully merged into our urban scene are few. Go to towns like Gopeng and Chenderiang and you’ll see them. But don’t turn it into a circus. They have endured more than most of us to survive their under-privileged existence. They deserve more than respect. They deserve our love and admiration.