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 […]
land rights
Land rights key to survival
THE problems the Penan and other indigenous communities face can sometimes seem overwhelming and complicated. In this interview with The Nut Graph conducted via e-mail in late September 2009, Koh Lay Chin speaks to anthropologist Kelvin Egay, whom she met while visiting the Orang Ulu in Sarawak. She asks Egay, who has researched these communities […]
JOAS applauds S’gor decision in Temuan case
PETALING JAYA, 23 April 2009: The Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (JOAS) commended the Selangor government’s decision to withdraw its Federal Court appeal in the Temuan land acquisition dispute yesterday. In a statement today, JOAS president Adrian Lasimbang said the move is the “first step in recognising indigenous rights”, and showed that political will is […]
S’gor to withdraw appeal in dispute with Temuans
SHAH 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 […]
Friend of the forest
WHEN we think about the logging industry, it’s not usually in a flattering light. Logging, especially in East Malaysia, has a reputation for being fraught with unethical practices: corruption, unsustainable destruction of ecosystems, and disregard for the land rights of indigenous peoples. Last year, allegations of sexual abuse of Penan women and schoolgirls in Baram […]
Orang Asli in Perak apprehensive
BIDOR, 24 Feb 2009: Orang Asli community leaders in Perak are worried that the state’s recent political developments will signal a return to a disregard of their rights. “We feel concern and sadness at what happened. Where are we in all this? Will Orang Asli issues, that were hot in the last 10 months, once […]
Anwar says takeover plan still on
SHAH ALAM, 30 Nov 2008: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated that the plan to take over the federal government was still in the pipeline. PKR’s top leaders stood up for the party song “God willing, we will be going to Putrajaya (to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) very soon,” […]
Recognise native land rights
Nicholas Bawin AnggatSHAH ALAM, 30 Nov 2008: Sarawak delegates at Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)’s 5th national congress want native land rights to be recognised if the party takes over the state government. Land titles should be given to Sarawak’s Orang Asal, as provided for under Native Customary Rights (NCR), said Nicholas Bawin Anggat who is […]
