Giving voice to Orang Asli
Amendments to Aboriginal Peoples Act expected this year
PUTRAJAYA: Amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134) are expected to be tabled in Parliament later this year, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
He said engagement sessions on the proposed amendments had already been conducted, involving a wide range of stakeholders, including the Orang Asli community and non-governmental organisations.
'The struggle of the Orang Asli is not just something to be fulfilled, but something that must be deeply understood.
'We believe the younger generation among the Orang Asli, particularly those who have pursued higher education and earned doctorates, must be empowered and given expanded opportunities,' he told reporters after attending a retreat marking one year since the Bumiputra Economic Congress here yesterday.
Earlier in his speech, Ahmad Zahid stressed the importance of equalising economic opportunities for bumiputra across the nation, including in Sabah and Sarawak, to avoid significant development disparities.
He also said efforts to uplift the bumiputra economy should not be viewed as marginalising other communities, Bernama reported.
'This is a fundamental principle. We do not need to be apologetic, nor should we feel guilty for championing these causes. We are not claiming special treatment, but rather implementing rights that are enshrined in the Federal Constitution,' he said.
Ahmad Zahid also lauded Sarawak's early achievements in advancing the bumiputra empowerment agenda within the state, noting that its customised policies for local bumiputra should serve as a model for other states.
Regarding the retreat, Ahmad Zahid said it would be made an annual event to collectively advance its development agenda.
He said the annual session would also enable bumiputra development to be implemented across ministries, agencies and sectors.
'The time has come for us to move boldly, guided by strategic inventions that are data-based and backed by real results.
'Now is the time to prove that everything that has been planned is being implemented,' he said.
Ahmad Zahid said he wanted every driver under the Bumiputra Economic Transformation Plan 2035 (PuTERA35) to have a clear, aggressive and consistent communication plan.
'The people have the right to know how many bumiputra entrepreneurs have been produced this year, how many progressed from micro to medium enterprises and how many TVET graduates are earning monthly salaries of RM4,000 and above,' he said.
To ensure PuTERA35 proceeds smoothly, he directed all deputy secretaries-general (policy) in each ministry to coordinate and monitor the plan's implementation.
Ahmad Zahid called on all PuTERA35 drivers to prioritise the 132 initiatives contained in the plan so the people can see the targeted results and impact.
'So far, the implementation of programmes and projects under PuTERA35 has reached more than 15%,' he said.
PuTERA35, launched in 2024, is a holistic action framework aimed at strengthening the bumiputra economy over the next 10 years.
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