SEREMBAN, April 24 (Bernama) -- The Orang Asli community in the peninsula is
supportive of the National Inquiry into Orang Asli/Indigenous People Land Rights
carried out by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
President of Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli Association, Majid Suhut, said
the issues concerning Orang Asli land rights had been left unsolved for far too
long and the move taken by Suhakam to carry out the inquiry was very much
welcomed.
"On behalf of the Orang Asli community in the peninsula, I really hope that
all quarters, be it the Attorney-General''s Chambers, state governments,
opposition pact and Barisan Nasional, can work closely with Suhakam to find
solutions to the issues," he told Bernama.
He said having the land rights was important to the Orang Asli community as
the land was their sole source of income.
The gazetting of reserve land for Orang Asli, especially involving their
residential areas in forest reserve, would also determine their survival rate,
he said.
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ORANG ASLI-SUHAKAM 2 (LAST) SEREMBAN
"Unlike other races, most Orang Asli did not get proper education. If their
land were given ''reserve'' status, they can work on the land and rest assured
that the land would not be taken away from them.
"In fact, certain quarters like Risda (Rubber Industry Smallholders
Development Authority (Risda) can also help these Orang Asli to increase their
income," Majid said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Orang Asli Villages Central Committee member Shafie
Dris said the effort taken by Suhakam was a big step for change for the Orang
Asli community.
"We laud the effort taken by Suhakam and I hope all quarters will give their
cooperation so that the long-standing issues will be resolved," he said.
--BERNAMA
LNH NHA
