Pekan Orang Asli: Najib sold us out

"It is his hometown. He is the Prime Minister now. He is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pekan. Why didn't he protect us?" Mohamad Udin said during the Impact of Orang Asli Land Policies public forum, conducted by Bar Council of Malaysia earlier this evening.

The Bar Council had organized a public forum regarding the impact of the proposed amendments to the current Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 by Jabatan Hal-Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA) which gives the federal government absolute rights in land ownership and land usage.

"They (FELDA and FELCRA) quietly shifted the border of our land several times, claiming that the land belonged to the Malay reserve.

"I was an ex-officer at JHEOA before they sacked me in 1983 for protecting the rights of Orang Asli. They are supposed to help the Orang Asli but all they have done is destroy the Orang Asli's livelihood. When I opposed them, they sacked me.

"Ever since I joined the Network of Orang Asli Villages (NOAV) and worked closely with Tijah, I have received several warnings from certain parties to stop doing that. They even threatened me that I have one foot in the grave, but I will continue to fight for our rights," said a defiant Mohamad Udin.

Mohamad Udin is one of some twenty Tok Batins (village heads) present today at the forum with about 192 Orang Asli from 7 different states - Selangor, Perak, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Kelantan and Johor who also turned up to make their voices heard.

Tok Batin Perat Dolah from Kampung Banting, Kuala Langat, Selangor also slammed JHEOA for disregarding the prime minister's directive and their own mandate to protect the Orang Asli.

"PM asked them to protect us but they have oppressed us instead. They are not even here. What are their priorities," said Perat adding that JHEOA had totally snubbed the public forum.

Klik4Malaysia (K4M) had earlier reported that an Orang Asli by the name of Panjang Tangkak had been arrested four times by the authorities for allegedly selling state-owned palm-oil produce.

Panjang, who is from Kampung Mikang, located in Rompin, Pahang, told K4M that the government suddenly came and took away all 12 acres of his land without informing him or giving him any form of compensation.

Sokyen from NOAV who hails from Gombak also chided certain Tok Batin who feared the JHEOA and authorities while urging the Orang Asli in Selangor to unite.

"You have fought tigers and elephants to protect your people and your land. Why are you afraid of them (JHEOA)? The tigers can swallow you whole and yet you fight it but why do you cower in front of the authorities?" he asked.

Sokyen also formally requested assistance from the Selangor government to allocate 10 acres of land for the Orang Asli to use as the Peninsular's central meeting point.

"Selangor is situated somewhere in the middle so I think that this is the best place for all the 18 tribes to gather for meetings and discussions or even hold an event," he explained.

Selangor state representative Elizabeth Wong (pic left), who is also the state's Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment Committee Chairperson said that she would definitely take up the Orang Asli request in the upcoming EXCO meeting.

She then told the Orang Asli that the Selangor state government would do whatever possible to protect over 15,000 Orang Asli who are currently residing in the state.

"After two and a half years in power, we have yet to give away any land belonging to the Orang Asli to private corporations and developers. The existing cases that we are working on are due to the former government's (Barisan Nasional) actions," said Wong.

Wong then explained that due to the former state government's aggressiveness in giving out land to private corporations and developers, up to 70% of the land in Selangor was now owned by the private sector.

She reiterated that the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government's stand was protecting the seventy Orang Asli villages in the state, together with their customary land.

Wong also asked the Orang Asli to be patient as the state government was facing various hurdles as both JHEOA and also the National Land Council have refused to assist the state government in gazetting the Orang Asli customary land.

"We are now drawing our own map with a handheld GPS and have almost completed mapping out the Sepang area. We have also set a target to complete gazetting 30% of the customary land in Selangor by end of the year," she added.

Dr Colin Nicholas (pic right), a Coordinator from the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) urged the Orang Asli to be more aware of their predicament.

"They are taking away all your lands and then giving you back a small piece of it. On top of that, they want to control what you do with that small piece of land that was 'given' to you. It doesn't have to be this way. Look at the Adong Kuwau case and the Sagong Tasi case.

The government had to pay compensation. You have your rights. This is why they want to amend the Act, to take away all your rights," Dr Colin explained.

He then reminded Orang Asli that although they can challenge the federal government in court, or lobby and protest the proposed amendments or even draft a new law that will protect their rights, the best option for the Orang Asli was to protect themselves by changing the federal government.

Meanwhile, Bar Council Committee Member on Orang Asli Rights, Augustine Anthony, condemned the original Act, calling it unconstitutional while labeling the proposed amendments an even greater violation of the Orang Asli rights.

"There are 19 sections in the Act. If they are amending all of it, they might as well throw it into the dustbin," he said while questioning the logic behind the full revamp.

He then highlighted several clauses where the Rural and Regional Development Minister holds absolute power in determining the identity of an Orang Asli and also the appointment of the Tok Batin.

"Since when do we need a Minister to tell us who we are? The Orang Asli knows who they are so why should they need a Minister to prove their identity?

"And since when do Ministers appoint village heads? Why can't the Orang Asli choose their own leaders?" said Augustine.

"It would seem like democracy applies to all except for the Orang Asli. The Bar Council wants the federal government to repeal the Act and pass a new legislation that will really protect the interests of the Orang Asli," he said in conclusion.

Augustine was one of the four panel members involved in the forum, representing the Bar Council while he was joined by Wong who represented the Selangor state government and also Dr Colin who represented COAC.

Although the Bar Council had invited the minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Mohamad Shafie Apdal to represent the federal government, he was unable to attend.