Latest news with #OrangAsal
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Rights of Orang Asli paramount
Fiery blessing: Orang Asal from various tribes lighting the torch as a ritual to lift up the spirits during the 'Hari Orang Asal Sedunia' celebration at Tadom Hill Resorts in Banting. (Below) Aaron urges the community to build greater cooperation with the Rukun Tetangga activities. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star Govt pledges to prioritise the lives, culture of the indigenous people BANTING: The indigenous community is a vital pillar in shaping the nation's identity and cultural diversity to further fuel unity and strength among races in the country said National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang. He said the government has constantly pledged to give recognition to the indigenous community and take steps to improve their quality of life comprehensively through various initiatives. Aaron cited the 13th Malaysia Plan, which proposed to re-examine the Orang Asli Acts 1954 (Act 134). He said various other aspects such as land ownership, education and infrastructure will also be improved for the community. Exclusive interview with Unity Seri Aaron Ago Dagang National Unity Ministerfor Merdeka Supplement 2025. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star Aaron said the government will prioritise developing talent for the indigenous community by enabling greater access to education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with aid for schooling and scholarships to assist their youth in attaining their full potential. He said the government will also continue to support efforts to preserve the language, oral heritage and cultural arts of the Orang Asli community in the country. 'Cultural heritage is a national asset that has to be preserved especially in efforts to address global issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. 'The National Unity Ministry is committed to strengthen strategic cooperation with the various indigenous communities in ensuring national policies are developed to be inclusive, responsive and meets the needs and aspirations of the indigenous community,' he said when officiating the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples 2025 (PHOAS 2025) organised by the Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (Joas) here yesterday. Aaron also called for the Orang Asli community to increase its participation and build greater cooperation with the Rukun Tetangga activities to enable greater social relations and the spirit of neighbourliness. He said such programmes would also help the community gain wider access to local development programmes. Joas president Hellan Empaing said the event was more than a celebration as it was a gathering of solidarity which brought the indigenous community together to reaffirm its rights. 'This celebration will only be meaningful when our rights are respected, our land protected and our voices recognised in all laws and policies at both national and international levels. We are not here to mourn but to strengthen solidarity and to clearly affirm that we are not alone,' she said. The event, attended by over 200 members of the indigenous community featured cultural exhibitions, public forums, knowledge-sharing and sales booths With the theme 'Protect the Earth, Restore the Land, Regreen the Future Through Indigenous Wisdom', the event called on Malaysians to recognise the wisdom of the indigenous community in caring for the environment and the earth's heritage and the people's responsibility towards it.
The Star
4 days ago
- General
- The Star
Visit these museums to learn more about Malaysia's Indigenous Peoples
Since its inaugural celebration in 1995, the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples has been observed annually on Aug 9. Malaysia commemorates the celebratory day on the same date, having done so since 2008, through the initiative of the Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (Joas). Hosting duties rotate among Sabah and Sarawak, as well as some states in Peninsular Malaysia. This year, Selangor takes the lead, holding the national-level World Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations in Banting. The three-day event concludes today, with the public invited to attend and learn more about the culture and heritage of Malaysia's Indigenous Peoples or Orang Asal. Activities include traditional games and sports, and showcases of Indigenous cuisine and costumes. Forums discussing the rights and issues of Orang Asal are also part of the event. These aim to shine the spotlight on the minorities that make up only 11% of the nation's over 30 million population, as per the 2020 Census by The Indigenous Navigator, a data-collecting project implemented in the country by Joas. (The Malaysian population currently stands at 34.2 million, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia.) Aside from taking part in the annual celebration that helps in preserving living heritage, there is another way that anyone interested can learn more about Indigenous Peoples – by visiting museums. In Malaysia, the oft-mentioned of such museums is the Orang Asli Museum Gombak in Selangor. There is also the Orang Asli Craft Museum located within the Muzium Negara (National Museum) complex in Kuala Lumpur. Many may not be aware but beyond the Klang Valley, there are other similar museums dedicated to various Indigenous groups. Anyone up for a road trip – or an air trip, in some cases – can visit the following states to check out these museums. Muzium Orang Asli Melaka is located in Ayer Keroh. — Wikimedia Commons Melaka Located next to the Melaka Crocodile Farm in Ayer Keroh is the Aborigines Museum or Muzium Orang Asli Melaka. The establishment replicates the design of a traditional house by the Temuan people, one of the subgroups of the Proto Malay tribe. There are three major tribes of Orang Asli – this term refers to the Indigenous groups in Peninsular Malaysia, while Orang Asal refers to all, including the ones in Sabah and Sarawak – and each tribe is further divided into six subgroups. Based on information from the museum, the Proto Malays are found in Selangor, Melaka, Johor and Negri Sembilan; the Negritos populate Perak and Kelantan; and the Senoi are scattered on the Titiwangsa Mountain Ranges, namely throughout Perak, Kelantan and Pahang. Small as this museum may be, it is a good place to know more about the Orang Asli's ceremonies and rituals, from weddings to burials. Kelantan In the heart of Kelantan's Jeli District is a museum that was initially known as Pusat Pameran dan Kraftangan Orang Asli when it was opened in 1987. Following upgrade works in 2011, it was renamed Muzium Orang Asli Jeli, according to a post on the museum's Facebook page. The museum is easily recognisable by its arched entrance, which has a design that takes inspiration from the pickaxes once widely used by the Temiar people (part of the Senoi group, the largest Orang Asli group in Malaysia) to fell trees for farming or for building their longhouses. Aside from information about the Orang Asli in Jeli, the museum also displays exhibits about the larger Orang Asli community in Malaysia. Muzium Perak in Taiping has an entire gallery dedicated to Orang Asli. — Wikimedia Commons Perak There is an entire gallery dedicated to Orang Asli at Perak Museum ( Malaysia's first and oldest surviving museum. The colonial-style building in Taiping was built in 1883, according to the Department of Museums Malaysia, and its upper level, added in 1900, is where the particular gallery is located. The gallery is divided into two sections: One focuses on everything Orang Asli, while the other showcases pottery collections. Exhibits at the Orang Asli section comprise unique artefacts that include hunting tools, masks and wood carvings. Meanwhile, the pottery side displays items such as water gourds and terenang (a type of water jug). Mah Meri Cultural Village is a living museum in Selangor. — Mah Meri Cultural Village website Selangor Aside from the Gombak museum, Selangor also has the Mah Meri Cultural Village (MMCV), a living museum located in Pulau Carey. It focuses on the Mah Meri tribe (also a Senoi subgroup), whose people are well-known for their wood-carving skills and intricate wooden masks. Here, visitors can marvel at their handicrafts as well as observe how the tribe celebrates during festivities, such as weddings and the traditional festival Hari Moyang (Spirit's Day). More details about the tour packages offered at MMCV, either for group bookings or walk-in visits, are available on their website ( Within Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Bumbun, where the living museum is located, there is another place that visitors can go to for Mah Meri handicrafts and culture. Pusat Kraf Orang Asli Sungai Bumbun is a craft centre that showcases the tribe's wood carving, weaving and traditional Jooh dance. More information can be found at Sarawak's Borneo Cultures Museum is conveniently located in Kuching. — Sarawak Museum Department website Sarawak While Orang Asli makes up less than 10% of the population in Peninsular Malaysia, the natives in Sarawak and Sabah make up over half of the population in each of the Bornean states. According to the Sarawak Tourism Board, there are 27 ethnic groups in the state, with the Iban people being the largest group. The cultures and lifestyles of the Iban people as well as Sarawak's other Indigenous tribes can be experienced by visitors at the living museum, Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV). From the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu longhouses to the Melanau Tall House and Penan Hut, there are plenty for visitors to explore. They will also be treated to cultural shows at the village. Pulling off double duty as a popular venue for major events, like the Rainforest World Music Festival and Borderland Music Festival, SCV stays open during such events but might charge higher entry fees. More information can be found at While still located within Kuching, SCV is roughly 50 minutes away from the city centre. For visitors short on time, they can visit the Borneo Cultures Museum, located in the city itself. Opened in 2022, the five-storey establishment is the largest museum in Malaysia. Its fifth floor houses the Objects of Desire gallery, which is where visitors can learn about the state's Indigenous communities. Sabah has several museums centred on its various Indigenous groups, like the Kadazandusun. — Bernama Sabah According to the Sabah state government's official website, there are 33 Indigenous groups in the state. The Kadazandusun is the largest group, forming 30% of its population. For an immersive learning experience, head to Mari Mari Cultural Village. This living museum focuses on not just the Kadazandusun people and their rice farming expertise, but also on Sabah's four other main tribes. The Rungus people are known for their longhouses; the Lundayeh people are of nomadic roots; the Bajau people are famed for their artfully adorned horses and their unmatched deep-diving skills; and the Murut people were once widely feared as headhunters. Information on the activities and packages offered can be found on the official website ( Visitors may also opt for pickup, as the living museum is located in Inanam, a sub-district of Kota Kinabalu that's roughly 40 minutes away from the city centre. Located closer to KK are two living museums in the Penampang district. One is the Koisaan Cultural Village ( set at Hongkod Koisaan KDCA Complex, while the other is the Monsopiad Cultural Village ( The latter focuses more heavily on the eponymous headhunter, Monsopiad, as it is privately owned by his descendants. But it does also strive to document and preserve the Kadazandusun people's traditions and beliefs. Sabah State Museum is another good source for learning about the state's Indigenous peoples. However, the museum's main building is currently closed for renovations. Check for updates on its official website ( prior to visiting.
Malay Mail
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Agi idup, agi ngelaban': Honouring activist's death, Nurul Izzah urges protection of Sarawak indigenous land
KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 – PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar has today called for stronger protection of Indigenous land rights in Sarawak following the passing of long-time activist Dennis — which she called a key figure in the fight for Native Customary Rights (NCR). In a statement, Nurul Izzah paid tribute to Dennis' contributions and urged Malaysians to continue advocating for the indigenous Orang Asal communities in the state, many of whom face ongoing threats from land encroachment and displacement. 'Agi idup, agi ngelaban – as long as there is life, the fight continues,' the daughter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, referencing the rallying cry of Sarawak's Orang Asal rights movement. She recalled her first visits to remote villages in Sarawak, where she learnt how the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, and Penan communities see land as their livelihood, a space for worship, and where traditions are upheld and families raised. She said Dennis' lifelong struggle, along with the efforts of other figures such as Harrison Ngau and the late Bill Kayong, exemplified unwavering courage and resilience in defending ancestral land and heritage. 'Although the nation's laws and the Sarawak Land Code recognise NCR rights, the reality is that only a fraction of these lands have been officially surveyed and granted ownership,' she said. Nurul Izzah highlighted that many Indigenous communities still face encroachment, forced evictions and exploitation as a result of land being leased to corporations without proper consultation or compensation. 'Palm oil plantations and logging activities continue to expand at the expense of Orang Asal sacrifice,' she said. She noted that courts have repeatedly affirmed NCR rights as consistent with customary law, the Federal Constitution and international human rights norms, but said enforcement remains inconsistent. 'I urge that the process of surveying and issuing titles for NCR land be expedited, and that no new licences be issued for lands still under dispute,' she said. She stressed that any development must obtain the free, prior and informed consent of original landowners and that affected communities must be fairly compensated. Nurul Izzah concluded her statement with a call for national solidarity, urging Malaysians to stand with Sarawak's Orang Asal peoples to ensure their voices are heard and their rights safeguarded.
