Suhakam: Keep your word, Jakoa

The Sun 
by Azizul Rahman Ismail

PETALING JAYA (Oct 1, 2012): The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) has criticised the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) for not keeping to its word and proceeding with the Orang Asli Land Ownership and Development Policy.

In March, Suhakam held an inquiry to address dissatisfaction with the policy which was deemed unfair to the indigenous people.

Suhakam Commissioner Mohammad Shaani Abdullah said Jakoa and the relevant authorities had pledged during the inquiry to make no amendments to the Orang Asli Land Ownership and Development Policy nor execute it until the Suhakam report on the matter was completed.

However, Suhakam received reports last week that the policy was being followed through in orang asli settlements in Pahang and Perak, he said, adding that the land involved was being measured and the orang asli concerned were being approached to sign an agreement.

Mohammad Shaani said: "The authorities should keep their word and halt their actions. They should be straightforward and frank with the orang asli, and deal with everyone first hand instead of dealing with the tribe leader alone."

"They should also include neutral parties in their meetings with the orang asli to ensure that the orang asli's interests are preserved,"he said.

Centre for Orang Asli Concerns coordinator Dr Colin Nicholas said the issue began when the Orang Asli Land Ownership and Development Policy was introduced in December 2009.

The policy was meant to benefit orang asli by awarding them ownership of their land, so that the undistributed land (in customary land areas) may be used for development and agriculture.

"Many orang asli people were not in favour of this as it had reduced the size of their land. This led to a protest in Putrajaya in March 2010," he said.

Colin said there are three types of lands that are linked to the orang asli: gazetted reserve (8,094ha), land that has been approved but has yet to be gazetted (10,522ha), and land that has been requested but has yet to be approved (31,970ha).

"The policy concerns the 79,000 acres (31,971 ha) which consist of land where the orang asli reside as well as where their graves and the forest are situated.

According to the new policy, up to six acres of land for an orchard and approximately one-quarter acre would be given to each orang asli family to reside," said Colin.

"However, Felda settlers – who originally do not own the land, are given eight to 10 acres of land," he said.

Colin said the authority should gazette the 26,000 acres (10,522 ha) of land that had been approved over 20 and 35 years ago.

On Friday, a group from the Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli Village Network gathered at the Jakoa headquarters to hand over a memorandum and express their dissatisfaction regarding the execution of the policy. Jakoa, when contacted, would not give any comments citing pending orders from the Secretary-General.