What ‘bumiputraship’ crap when the original Bumi owner of Tanah Malaya still NOT recognised as Bumi – the ORANG ASLI?
YES, ORANG ASLI – TRULY ORIGINAL NATIVE 80,000 YEARS AGO YET GIVEN NON-BUMI STATUS…HA HA HA
TO INCLUDE ORANG ASLI AS BUMI REQUIRE 2/3 DEWAN MAJORITY TO REVISE CONSTITUTION…BIG JOKE
BUT TO GIVE ANY LANUN MINDANAO LANUN SULU IT’S AUTOMATIC BUMI STATUS, MYKAD AND REGISTERED VOTER TOO! HA HA HA
SO THERE YOU GO:
ORANG ASLI – STATUS PENDATANG ASING NON-BUMI !
LANUN-LANUN MINDANAO SULUK – CEPAT BAGI MYKAD/ VALID VOTER/ LESEN KONTRAKTOR STATUS-BUMI CIDB G7 PKK CLASS A GET BIG MEGA PROJEKS !
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Suhakam: Amend constitution to include Orang Asli as bumiputera
by Claudia Theophilus, Malaysia Kini, 11 Feb 2004
The Human Right Commission (Suhakam) has called on the government to amend the Federal Constitution to accord bumiputera status to the Orang Asli, the country’s indigenous peoples in the peninsula.
In its 91-page report entitled ‘The Human Rights of Orang Asal’ – released this morning – it pointed out that section 153(1) of the constitution only recognises Malays and the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak (Orang Asal) as bumiputera at present.
“The Federal Constitution should be amended to include the Orang Asli as bumiputera similar to the Malays and the Orang Asal in Sabah and Sarawak,” Suhakam said in the report.
The long-awaited report – based on a number of workshops held by Suhakam over the last two years – also made key recommendations regarding the land rights of the native communities.
Native customary land
It call for an urgent review of three main laws pertaining to native customary land in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
The report stated that a review of the laws – the National Land Code, the Sarawak Land Code and the Sabah Land Ordinance – would accord proper recognition of native customary land rights.
The native communities in Malaysia have long complained that their rights to land and forest produce have been largely ignored.
This has led to encroachment of land that they have occupied for generations. They have alleged that much of the encroachment has been due to massive, and at times illegal, logging and mining activities.
“Native customary land should not only be recognised, protected and acknowledged but (native communities) also need to be given the space to continue their traditional activities,” said Suhakam.
Native communities have expressed dissatisfaction over certain conditions that prohibit them from carrying traditional activities such as hunting, agriculture and gathering forest produce on such lands.
Land titles
The commission also called for the Orang Asli Act 1954 to be amended to ensure that permanent land titles are issued instead of a 99-year lease as is done in most cases now.
The report recommended that the changes be based on Malay Reserve provisions in order to guarantee the permanent status of Orang Asli reserves.
Suhakam also suggested that the government set up a special commission or a dedicated department to handle native customary land issues faced by the Orang Asal.
According to Suhakam, the lack of grassroots consultation and contradicting priorities are the major reasons for failure to improve the standard of living of the native communities.
“Not only are the Orang Asal/Asli not consulted, they are not even given an opportunity to work with the government agencies in charge of the development project,” stated the report.
“Furthermore, most development plans fail to meet the needs of the native communities because they are usually left out of environment impact assessment studies.”
Inadequate compensation
Other problems faced by the communities include displacement and frequent relocation to make way for development project, as well as inadequate compensation that is in violation of the Land Acquisition Act provisions.
Suhakam’s other recommendations include the improvement of access to free health and education, particularly in remote areas. At present, the school dropout rate among Orang Asal children is 60 percent.
Financial constraints have left many deserving students without the opportunity to further their education while clashing traditional celebrations have led to high absenteeism in schools, the report noted.
In this respect, affirmative action with quota and scholarships has been recommended for the Orang Asal children.
“A study under the Eight Malaysia Plan found that the Orang Asal community represents the group with the lowest income. About 80 percent of the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia live below the poverty level.”
The lack of political representation of the native communities is another shortcoming.
Another recommendation is to set up a ministry under the Prime Minister’s Department to handle Orang Asal affairs.
Others include systematic registration of birth and citizenship documents, and for the Orang Asli Affairs Department to employ those from the native communities.