Malaysia Forum

Colin Nicholas, Coordinator, Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC), talks about the special relationship of land to the Orang Asli. Not unlike the Native Americans, the particular areas where Orang Asli live make them what they are — “people of special ecological niches.” The physicality of land influences their culture, spirituality and social structure — and past and current government and corporate encroachment (e.g. logging, the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), Sepang, KLIA, Subang) upon Orang Asli land and subsequent resettlement have drastically affected their livelihoods and well-being. A shocking 75% of Orang Asli still live below the poverty line, and they fare poorly in terms of all other indicators of standards of living (health, nutrition, access to water, etc.).

Colin strongly advocates recognizing Orang Asli claims to their ancestral land as a start. He argues, also, that we need to understand that they can lead self-suficient, autonomous, dignified lives by themselves. Colin explains that the Orang Asli want development and its benefits, but only on their terms. Fascinatingly, Colin relates the inseparable (but often overlooked) historical and cultural relationship between the Malay Peninsula and the Orang Asli by arguing that many Malay Sultanates (e.g. Melaka, Perak) could not be founded without the help of the Orang Asli (e.g. Johor and the Orang Laut); also, fascinatingly, Negeri Sembilan Undangs need Orang Asli blood.

In addition to these, Colin answers questions about regional efforts to address the plight of the indigene, the tension between Malaysia’s assimilation policies to create a Bangsa Malaysia and the need to address the Orang Asli as a separate, historically-marginalised community, and the political and financial incentives of many indigenous representatives (many in government) to oppress and mislead their own people.

Posted by andrewlza / NMF 2008