KLANG Valley youth these days probably own a few electronic gadgets from smart phones and laptops to digital cameras. But why are there whole communities in Malaysia still without electricity? And why won’t the government fund the affordable systems that will allow them to generate their own electricity?
Colin Nicholas
Restricting indigenous rights
As If Earth Matters by Gan Pei Ling
IN the upcoming Galas by-election, Umno is expected to harp on “Ladang Rakyat”, a PAS state government development project that has reportedly benefited a private company over the rights of settlers. While Umno is championing the land rights of Malay Malaysian settlers, however, the Orang Asli remain one of the most impoverished communities under the […]
Assessing Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor
By Ding Jo-Ann
WHAT has the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Selangor government achieved after two and a half years in power? If one relied on traditional media reports or Umno’s “Save Selangor” roadshow, the answer may well be, “Not very much”. But the reality is much more nuanced, as demonstrated in the book The Road to Reform: Pakatan Rakyat […]
Corporatising JHEOA: Its impact on indigenous rights
By Deborah Loh
PETALING JAYA, 20 July 2010: A proposed move to corporatise the Orang Asli Affairs Department, known by its Malay acronym JHEOA, to take charge of land development for the Orang Asli will impoverish the indigenous peoples. Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) coordinator Dr Colin Nicholas said corporatisation was likely to be among the amendments […]
JHEOA denies conversion activities
By Ding Jo-Ann
PETALING JAYA, 9 June 2010: The Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA) has denied allegations that a hospital in Gombak has been involved in the conversion of Orang Asli to Islam.
JHEOA involved in Orang Asli conversion
By Ding Jo-AnnColin Nicholas PETALING JAYA, 4 May 2010: The Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA) has been involved in the Islamisation of Orang Asli for decades, said Centre for Orang Asli Concerns coordinator Dr Colin Nicholas. “One of JHEOA‘s main objective is to convert Orang Asli to Islam. They don’t say it openly but their budget […]
S’gor to withdraw appeal in dispute with Temuans
By Gan Pei LingSHAH ALAM, 22 April 2009: The Selangor government will withdraw its appeal to the Federal Court over the Sagong Tasi case involving the Temuan tribe’s land rights. In a statement today, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the decision was made at state executive councilor (exco)’s meeting today. He said the state legal […]
Call to release Penan task force report
By Zedeck SiewPETALING JAYA, 20 April 2009: Women’s and indigenous peoples’ advocacy groups are urging new Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to release the findings of the 2008 Penan task force. A Penan woman (All pics by Tajai @ Flickr) The task force was commissioned by the ministry under former minister […]
Left in the margins
By Zedeck SiewTemiar children from RPS Kemar, Perak. The Temiar here routinely dress up in their traditional gear, as a sign of emerging pride in their culture (© Centre for Orang Asli Concerns) MULTICULTURALISM is one of our most touted traits: Malaysia, Truly Asia. Nevertheless, it is an open secret that Malaysians coexist uneasily, and that national policy […]
New govt land policy shortchanges Orang Asli
By Zedeck SiewKUALA LUMPUR, 19 Nov 2008: The new plan by the government to give land titles to heads of Orang Asli households will not benefit the community of indigenous peoples. “The land policy will actually deprive the Orang Asli of their land,” said Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) co-ordinator Dr Colin Nicholas. He was referring […]
