PETALING JAYA: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has called for Putrajaya to recognise the rights of Orang Asli to consent to any development programmes on their land.
Suhakam commissioner Jerald Joseph said the government must incorporate the principle of free, prior and informed consent into Malaysian law to protect indigenous communities from land grabs.
“There were promises to reform the National Forestry Act and it was something we were looking forward to, the process had actually begun and Suhakam had seen the draft,” he said at an online conference on Orang Asli human rights today.
However, these were probably empty promises as Suhakam had not received any recent updates since the announcement of the amendment.
He added that it was important to create awareness on the issue, so the masses could put pressure on the government to halt deforestation projects in Orang Asli land.
Another speaker, Tijah Yok Chopil of Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia, said the government often made decisions on behalf of the Orang Asli community without prior consultation.
“Any efforts of the Orang Asli to protest against the government’s decision are always pushed aside and ignored,” she said.
She questioned the government’s lack of acknowledgement and respect for Orang Asli’s rights, despite the fact that the land belonged to their ancestors who lived there even before the country of Malaysia was established.
Tijah added that in most cases, Orang Asli communities would be informed at the last minute about development on their land, and given a set date to move out.
“They just inform us, and count that as having a discussion with us. This is not obtaining prior and informed consent, because they have made the decision on behalf of Orang Asli.
“If this issue is not righted by the government and taken seriously, then in the future there will be nothing positive for the development of the Orang Asli community. We do not have the power to even protect our own rights.”