WELLINGTON: After more than 70 years, significant changes will be made to laws concerning the rights and welfare of the Orang Asli community, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the proposed amendments will be wide-ranging and cover not only land-related matters but also other aspects that were inspired by laws for the Maori community in New Zealand.
“The Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134) is now 71 years old and many aspects need to be reviewed,” said Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister.
Orang Asli affairs fall under the ministry’s portfolio.
“We are not only looking at land ownership but also their rights in education, business and financing.
“Of course, we cannot fully adopt New Zealand’s model, but its approach can be adapted based on the needs and realities of Malaysia’s Orang Asli community,” Ahmad Zahid told reporters at Malaysia House here yesterday.
Some of the proposed amendments are derived from what was learnt during his working visit to New Zealand.
Besides land protection, he noted that the Maori model also addressed both education and economic elements.
“The purpose of this amendment is to strengthen protection for the Orang Asli community. It will be brought to the Cabinet for discussions before being tabled in Parliament, debated and voted on,” he said.
Engagements with relevant stakeholders, including academicians, village leaders from the community and state governments, will be ongoing while the amendments are being drafted.
“We do not want to exclude any party, so ongoing engagement sessions are being conducted with state leadership and representatives from the 377 Orang Asli villages in Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
He added that March next year would be the likely time frame for the amendments to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.
The Orang Asli Development Department will also be tasked to look at the development of the Orang Asli community beyond their basic needs, such as infrastructure and education.
Although the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia number about 225,000, Ahmad Zahid said the government will not marginalise their rights.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid held a meeting with Maori Development Minister Tama Potaka at the New Zealand Parliament, known as the Beehive.
The meeting provided both parties with the opportunity to share views on indigenous community development policies and strengthen cooperation to empower the Orang Asli community in Malaysia.
Ahmad Zahid also met up with his counterpart, David Seymour, as well as with Ibrar Sheikh, president of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand.
