Press Release: Workshop on “Native Title Rights – the Issues, Claims and the Law”

The Bar Council’s Committee on Orang Asli Rights (“COAR”), Human Rights Committee and Professional Standards and Development Committee, co-organised a workshop on “Native Title Rights – the Issues, Claims and the Law”, which is being held at the Bar Council today.  The aim of the workshop is to equip lawyers with the fundamentals of the law and practice on native customary rights claims.

On 9 Oct 2010, COAR organised a public forum to discuss the proposed amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 and its impact on the land rights of the Orang Asli.  It was attended by about 190 Orang Asli.  The Orang Asli who attended this forum provided accounts of exploitation, discrimination and deprivation of their livelihood.  These were stories of misery and hardship visited upon the poor and downtrodden of our land.  It was an eye opener for many and heart wrenching to all.  It was clear that the Orang Asli had come to the forum to appeal to the Bar.  This was a desperate cry for help.

In the wake of the forum, and our experience in dealing with Orang Asli claims, we need a large number of lawyers to represent the Orang Asli in court to expose the injustices that have been perpetrated against them.  Their claims revolve around native customary rights to their ancestral lands and the denial of their economic, social, cultural and religious rights.

We have invited lawyers with vast experience and knowledge in this area to conduct the training.  In addition, Dr Colin Nicholas (Director of the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns) and Prof Dr Ramy Bulan (Centre for Indigenous Studies, Universiti Malaya) will speak on current issues and challenges faced by the Orang Asli.  We have also invited representatives from the Orang Asli community to share their plight.

The workshop has been very well received, and that is very encouraging.  We have more than 70 participants, which include pupils in chambers and students.  We hope that the workshop will create awareness of the many issues and challenges faced by the Orang Asli.  We also hope that the participants, and other Members of the Bar, will actively take up cases for the Orang Asli and represent their interest.


Ragunath Kesavan
President
Malaysian Bar