Govt to amend Aboriginal Peoples Act to strengthen Orang Asli rights
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the purpose of the act was originally to deter the Orang Asli community from engaging in communist activities.
"There is a dire need to amend the law. We must remember that this Act, in 1954, was intended to prevent the Orang Asli from becoming involved in communist activities.
"Its purpose today is entirely different. We need to focus on education, welfare, housing, infrastructure, and the future of the Orang Asli," he said during Minister's Question Time, in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (BN–Jelebu).
He said a study of the Act was currently underway to refine and review the existing provisions and identify gaps in its implementation.
Following stakeholder engagements, preliminary issues identified for amendment include land-related matters, such as customary land rights, Orang Asli welfare, the management of customary marriages, and governance involving traditional leadership within Orang Asli communities.
"Land administration falls under the jurisdiction of the respective state governments, as stipulated in the Federal Constitution.
"Therefore, the Ministry will hold an engagement session with state governments through a Special Meeting of the Orang Asli Consultative Council (MaPOA) to discuss land matters involving the Orang Asli community.
"This engagement is a crucial step before the matter is brought to the National Land Council, which will be chaired by the Prime Minister," said Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development.
The government is also in the process of developing a comprehensive and inclusive policy, known as the Orang Asli Development Policy, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The policy will align with national priorities, including the Rural Development Policy, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which Malaysia ratified in 2007.
"The formulation of this policy reflects the government's commitment to laying a foundation for empowering the Orang Asli community, enabling them to be on par with other indigenous groups globally.
"The DPOA will focus on seven strategic areas: land, education, health, economy, leadership, infrastructure, and culture. Its implementation will be guided by the principle of no forced assimilation," he said.
Zahid added that Putrajaya was also considering the feasibility of establishing an Orang Asli Advisory Council, modelled after the New Zealand Māori Council, which has played a significant role in promoting the social, economic, educational and cultural advancement of the Māori community.
Through the establishment of this council, the government aims to amplify the voices and aspirations of the Orang Asli in shaping their development, within a legal framework that upholds the principle of self-determination — a key element of the UNDRIP.
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