Orang Asli’s Rights
Rights of the rakyat as contained in the Federal Constitution of Malaysia were the subject of deliberation during a lively dialogue with the Orang Asli of Kampong Batu 14, Tapah on September 4.
A “sewang” demonstration by village maidens
As the country progresses, amendments are made to the Constitution by the passage of laws enacted by parliament. Over 1,000 amendments, mostly technical in nature, have been made since its creation in August 1957. Unfortunately, not many Malaysians are aware of the Constitution, let alone the amendments made so far.
Some of the notable articles within the Constitution which affect the rakyat directly are Articles 8, 10, 12 and 13. Article 8 is about equality before the law. Freedom of speech, assembly and the right to form associations are contained in Article 10 while Article 12 stipulates citizens’ rights with respect to education. Article 13 relates to the ownership of property and compensation.
The dialogue was attended by over 60 villagers from the Semai community which dominates the Orang Asli settlements along the Tapah-Cameron Highlands road. It was organised by Ipoh City Watch (ICW) with the assistance of the Malaysian Bar Council. ICW President, Augustine Anthony (right pic), gave an overview of the Constitution and how the aforementioned Articles impacted the indigenous community, per se.
During the question and answer session a member of the tribe asked whether the authorities can deny them entry into their native lands for cultivation and hunting. Another asked whether the construction of electric pylons by Tenaga Nasional Berhad near his village contravenes his rights under Article 13. The questions posed were promptly answered by the panel of experts.
“The spirit of Article 8, therefore, entails that an Orang Asli can be nominated to the highest office in the country, including that of Prime Minister,” Augustine concluded, in obvious reference to Article 8 of the Constitution. He was greeted with a loud round of applause from the audience.
ICW’s next stop is Kampong Tersusun Tasek, a Malay enclave near Bercham, Ipoh.
FZB
Category: Community, Headlines, Latest News
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Orang Asli are the First Peoples of Peninsular Malaysia, Anthroplogists and administrators have classed the 85,000 Orang Asli into 19 sub-ethnic groups. Each group however has a language and a culture quite distant from the other. Some are forest-dwelling, others live on the plains or along the coasts, while a large number also live in urban centres. In general, the Orang Asli have long been a category among the nation’s poor, both in terms of material progress and in the access to social and political power.
More Ngos like ICW should come forward and awaken our Asli brothers of their rights and their religious freedom. In this way, the voice of our Asli brothers and sisters could be heard!