We are also 1 Malaysia, says Orang Asli leader

More than 1000 protesters from the The protest, organised by the Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli Association (POASM) and the Network of Orang Asli Villages, handed over a memorandum to the PM in Putrajaya today. - Picture by Jack Ooi

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian Insider

PUTRAJAYA, March 17 — More than 1,000 people gathered today near the Prime Minister’s office to protest against the proposed amendment to Act 134 of the National Land Act.

The protestors claim the proposed amendment will only allow six to eight acres of land to be allocated to each Orang Asli (indigenous people) household.

The protest, organised by the Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli Association (POASM) and the Network of Orang Asli Villages, handed over a memorandum, signed by 12,000 Orang Asli throughout Peninsular Malaysia, to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The protestors, some wearing indigenous outfits, carried banners saying ‘Our rights must be protected,’ ‘Don’t abolish our Act’, and ‘Don’t take away our rights, we are willing to be bathed in blood.’

Police stopped the protestors as they began marching towards the front entrance of the prime minister’s office. They explained that there were many tourists around.

Police stopped the protestors as they began marching towards the front entrance of the prime minister’s office. They thens there were many tourists around.

“Put down the banners! You are breaking the law!” the police officers ordered.

“You do not have to talk to us like that! We are also humans. We know the law. Can’t you ask nicely?” one of the protestors shot back.

Police forcing the protestors to put down their banners. - Picture by Jack Ooi

They finally agreed to the demands by the police and waited patiently under the hot sun for the prime minister’s officers to receive the memorandum.

Half an hour later, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal appeared and received the memorandum.

The Rural and Regional Development Minister explained that the amendment to Section 134 was in the deliberation process and the government was still open to discussion.

“Currently we are doing a road-show explaining to the public at large — particularly the indigenous people — about the amendments. And the feedback coming from them is crucial to help us accommodate them. There are no closed doors.

“The amendment is not finalised, it is still with the Attorney-General. That is why we are going to table it... possibly in June,” he told reporters here.

Shafie also denied that the government plans to only allow six acres of land for each household

“We need to explain to them that actually the indigenous people are entitled to not only the land gazetted but also land for which they can apply. There are no restrictions granted to the indigenous people on top of what they are entitled to,” he said.

Shafie tried to play down the demonstration and said most of the protestors came to Putrajaya on “vacation.”

“Actually they came to witness the handover of the memorandum and also to have a vacation. They wanted to take pictures of Putrajaya and they also took pictures with me. They came all over and they haven’t seen Putrajaya and only seen it on television,” he said.

Later at a press conference, Pijah Yok Chopil said the government must protect the rights of the indigenous people if they truly believe in 1 Malaysia.

“When Najib became the prime minister, the first thing he did was come up with his concept of 1 Malaysia. Our understanding of 1 Malaysia is that every Malaysian has their uniqueness, making Malaysia into a colourful society. So let us live our own way of life, culture, beliefs but we can be united so do not take away our human rights. Make 1 Malaysia a reality,” said the founder of Network of Orang Asli Villages.

Pijah explained that the amendments do not represent the demands of the indigenous people.

“ For us, land is everything. Land is not for living and income but our land represents everything. It is for culture, beliefs, knowledge, and our history. Our way of life is our identity. We are not greedy but what we are demanding is our right even though we have been labelled as a society that migrates from one place to another. That is not true.

“Every group of indigenous people lives as a group in one area. So even though we move from one place to another it is within our land.

“We find that the amendment does not consider the desire of the indigenous people and is not accordance with the spirit of 1 Malaysia which emphasised the different races in the country,” she said.

She also criticised the government for neglecting the Orang Asli.

“For almost 53 years of independence but many of our villages do not have necessary necessities such roads, electricity and many more. Many of our lands have been taken so easily causing us to be poor. Actually we are not poor but very rich. We are the richest people in Malaysia. We have land and resources. That is why our people have never begged for money or lived on the streets. Even though we do not drive Mercedes, we are very rich.

But I am afraid that in five years time that this will happen if the amendments are approved,” she said.

Pijah added that the “air-conditioned” ministers must listen to the community.

“The ministers talk like that because they live in air-conditioned buildings but we living in the villages know the problems facing us. I believe that those facing problems know the solution to their problems. So if the government wants to help then they should listen to us,” she said.