Malaysia's Orang Asli need more help improving their health

Orang Asli children listen as a mobile clinic volunteer teaches them how to brush their teeth properly. A significant number of such children suffer from malnutrition, resulting in stunting and underweight. — Filepic

The Orang Asli are the indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia.

The Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134) defined the Orang Asli as “any person whose male parent is or was a member of an aboriginal ethnic group, who speaks an aboriginal language and habitually follows an aboriginal way of life and aboriginal customs and beliefs and includes a descendant through males of such persons”.