THE phenomenon of indigenous women like the Penan being violated is not peculiar to Malaysia. Indeed, there are parallels in other countries, including a developed nation like the US. In their 2007 report, Maze of Injustice: The failure to protect indigenous women from sexual violence in the USA, Amnesty International (AI) reported that indigenous women […]
Orang Asli
Getting emotional about Palestine
Ventings by Marina Mahathir
ON whichever side we may be on, it seems almost impossible not to be emotional about the Palestinian issue. The sources of these emotions may vary, from identification either with the Palestinian or Israeli side, or simply from the sheer frustration at the unjustness of the situation. What’s clear is that amidst the emotion, there is a lot of fuzziness about the real issues, and much inconsistency on principles.
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 […]
Orang Asli converted against will
By Ding Jo-AnnOrang Asli hospital signboard (Pic courtesy of theSun) KUALA LUMPUR, 26 April 2010: Staff at the Orang Asli hospital in Gombak have systematically attempted to convert Orang Asli to Islam regardless of the “converts’” willingness to do so, several Orang Asli have revealed. Mohd Zaki Abdullah, an Orang Asli Muslim convert who still goes by […]
Convincing Orang Asli in Hulu Selangor
By Ding Jo-AnnA house in Kampung Pertak IT’s been a busy week for the Orang Asli in Hulu Selangor, with Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) both trying hard to win the over 700 votes in the community. The Orang Asli are usually wary of outsiders, but a senior couple in Kampung Pertak warmly welcome The […]
The real pribumi of Malaysia
By Deborah LohOrang Asal at a September 2008 gathering in Kuala Lumpur IN an interview with The Nut Graph, Pribumi Perkasa Negara (Perkasa) president Datuk Ibrahim Ali was careful to mention that Perkasa wants affirmative action for all races. He was also careful to mention “native rights” in the same breath as Malay Malaysians. But despite the […]
BN’s commitment to indigenous rights
By Ding Jo-Ann“We open our ears to whatever grouses the public, in particular the Orang Asli, have. If anyone says we are depriving them, we are neglecting them, that’s not true.” RURAL and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, speaking to reporters after receiving a memorandum from the Orang Asli protesting proposed changes to the […]
Giving Orang Asli land
By Ding Jo-AnnCorrected at 12.50pm, 22 April 2010 Members of the Orang Asli community in Kampung Chang, Bidor, protesting for their land rights (File pic) “TANAH kami, maruah kami,” said banners at an Orang Asli protest in Putrajaya recently against changes to the policy affecting their land rights. Just three months ago, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri […]
Orang Asli Hospital not fulfilling role
By Ding Jo-AnnKUALA LUMPUR, 22 Mar 2010: A hospital set up by the British to serve the Orang Asli in Gombak is not fulfilling its objectives in part because most of its patients are non-Orang Asli. Dr Selva Vathany Kanapathi Pillai, recently transferred out of the hospital after publicly voicing her concerns, told The Nut Graph that […]
