Latest news with #OrangAsliDevelopmentDepartment
The Star
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Orang Asli welfare laws to undergo major amendments, says Zahid
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (second, left) holds a meeting with the Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka, held at the Minister's Meeting Room in the New Zealand Parliament, today. --fotoBERNAMA WELLINGTON: After more than 70 years, laws regarding the rights and welfare of the nation's Orang Asli will undergo significant amendments, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Deputy Prime Minister said the proposed amendments will be wide-ranging, covering not only land-related matters but also other aspects, inspired by the model used by the Maori community in New Zealand. "The Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134) is now 71 years old, and many aspects need to be reviewed. We are not only looking at land ownership but also their rights in education, business, and financing,' he said. 'Of course, we cannot fully adopt New Zealand's model, but its approach can be adapted based on the needs and realities of Malaysia's Orang Asli community," he told reporters at a press conference at Malaysia House on Wednesday (July 16). Dr Ahmad Zahid said some of the proposed amendments are derived from what was learned during his working visit to New Zealand. Besides land protection, he noted that the Maori model also addressed education and economic elements. He said the proposed amendments are still at the early draft stage, and added that engagement with relevant stakeholders, including academicians and professionals from the Orang Asli community, is still ongoing. Dr Ahmad Zahid added that the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) will also be tasked with looking at the development of the Orang Asli community beyond their basic needs, such as infrastructure and education. 'The purpose of this amendment is not to deny rights, but rather to strengthen protection for the Orang Asli community. "It will be brought to the Cabinet for discussions before being tabled in Parliament, debated, and voted on," he said. He added that March next year would likely be the timeframe for the amendments to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat. Dr Ahmad Zahid acknowledged that cooperation from the respective state governments is crucial in ensuring the proposed amendments are drafted accordingly. 'Cooperation with state governments is crucial. "We do not want to exclude any party, so ongoing engagement sessions are being conducted with state leadership and representatives from the 377 Orang Asli villages in Peninsular Malaysia," he said. Although the Orang Asli are a minority in Malaysia, with a population of only about 225,000, Dr Ahmad Zahid said the Madani government will not marginalise their rights. Earlier, Ahmad Zahid held a meeting with Maori Development Minister Tama Potaka at the New Zealand Parliament, known as the Beehive. The meeting provided both parties with the opportunity to share views on indigenous community development policies and strengthen cooperation to empower the Orang Asli community in Malaysia. Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, also met with his counterpart David Seymour. He later held an engagement session with the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand's president, Ibrar Sheikh, at Malaysia House.
The Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
More than 500 Orang Asli enrolled in public, private unis this year, says Zahid
ROTORUA: More than 500 Orang Asli students have enrolled in local private and public universities to further their studies this year, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( pic ). The Deputy Prime Minister said this was among the achievements of the current administration to uplift the socioeconomic status of the nation's Orang Asli community. "Although the Orang Asli are a minority group, the Madani government will give attention and focus to ensure that they are not sidelined or left behind," he told reporters after attending the Maori Business Roundtable talks with Maori community leaders here on Tuesday (July 15). He said that the number of Orang Asli students enrolling in the local universities has been increasing since 2023. "The 300 enrollment target set in 2023 was exceeded and the target was exceeded again last year when we increased the number to 400. "This year's target of 500 enrollment was also exceeded," he said. Meanwhile, Dr Ahmad Zahid announced that he will chair a special meeting soon with the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) to set up an Orang Asli Business Council. He said that the council will help expose the community to various viable business fields. He added that a micro credit scheme would also be set up under Amanah Ikthiar Malaysia to provide small loans to Orang Asli women and mothers to generate more income for their families. "We will also set up a TVET institution specifically for the Orang Asli. This will be done although there are already TVET institutions in the country," he added. On using tourism to boost the community's status, Dr Ahmad Zahid said that the Melaka Orang Asli affairs committee chairman had agreed to turn the existing Orang Asli village in Gapam Baru in Selandar, Alor Gajah into an international tourist attraction. He said that further talks will be held to finetune the details of the proposal including providing allocations to promote the village concerned as an attraction. Ahmad Zahid said that Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor, who heads the Orang Asli Development Committee, will oversee the implementation of the proposals which were announced. Ramli is the nation's first Orang Asli to be elected as an MP and he was subsequently appointed as Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker. There are slightly more than 200,000 Orang Asli in Peninsula Malaysia, accounting for about 0.8% of the nation's population. Earlier, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, visited the Whakarewa Living Maori Village in an effort to learn how the indigenous community here manage their cultural and economic affairs. The Deputy Prime Minister is on a five-day working visit, beginning July 14, aimed at boosting bilateral ties and trade with New Zealand.
New Straits Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Nurturing young Orang Asli as potential leaders
KUANTAN: Yayasan Pahang has partnered with the State Education Department to introduce the Pahang Emerging Indigenous School Leaders (PEISL) programme, aimed at nurturing potential young leaders from the Orang Asli community. This specially designed pilot programme seeks to develop a dedicated pool of leaders from Orang Asli backgrounds, empowering them to serve as headmasters and principals at indigenous schools throughout the state. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the programme's goal was to foster leadership that truly understands and can effectively address the unique educational needs of Orang Asli students. "PEISL aims to bring about significant improvements in educational outcomes and support cultural preservation by empowering members of the community to take on leadership roles in their schools. "By offering a specialised platform for learning and professional development, the programme helps cultivate school-level leaders with the capacity to drive educational transformation within the Orang Asli community," he said during the launch of the 'Apa Khabar Orang Kita' Carnival and the 2025 Orang Asli Education Excellence Awards hosted by Yayasan Pahang at its complex. The three-day carnival was a vibrant celebration of the achievements and contributions of the Orang Asli community, highlighting excellence in areas such as education, entrepreneurship, sports, leadership and religion. The event, a joint effort between the Orang Asli Development Department, the State Education Department and the Pahang Youth Council, was supported by sponsors, including the Pahang Orang Asli Corporation, the Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council, and the Human Resources Development Corporation. The PEISL programme marks a significant step toward self-determination and sustainable development for Pahang's Orang Asli community, ensuring that the schools are led by individuals who are not only knowledgeable, but also deeply connected to their heritage and aspirations. Meanwhile, Wan Rosdy said having previously held the portfolio for Orang Asli affairs, he had a deep understanding of the community's needs, challenges and potential. "Since being entrusted with the role of menteri besar, I have worked tirelessly to ensure the continuity and expansion of relevant policies." Various programmes have been introduced to uplift the community, including those under Yayasan Pahang, he said. "For example, the rural education intervention programme 'Baca Cepat Kawanku' has significantly improved literacy among Orang Asli students aged as young as 7, raising literacy rates in some schools from 30 per cent to 100 per cent. "In addition, a career-guarantee initiative based on the 'train and place' concept provides Orang Asli youth with vocational training, leading to permanent employment and stable income in sectors such as welding, hairdressing and construction," he said. By T.N. Alagesh
The Star
01-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Orang Asli Development Dept brings essential services to remote villages
GUA MUSANG: The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa), together with various government agencies, has launched an outreach expedition to deliver essential services to three remote Orang Asli settlements in the Nenggiri state constituency under the Mesra Rakyat programme. Jakoa director-general Datuk Sapiah Mohd Nor said the programme brings together the Social Welfare Department, National Registration Department (NRD), Health Ministry, National Anti-Drugs Agency, Gua Musang Court, South Kelantan Development Authority and the Nenggiri state assemblyman's service centre to help the villages. She said the collaboration aimed to facilitate direct access to government services for the Orang Asli, without requiring them to endure long and difficult journeys to town, with Pos Simpor, Pos Pasik and Kuala Wook selected as the destinations for the two-day expedition, which began Saturday (May 31). "This initiative is the result of coordination among various agencies under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry," she told reporters during the programme at Pos Pasik, here Sunday. Meanwhile, Nenggiri assemblyman Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani said the initiative received overwhelming support from local residents, who took advantage of the chance to engage directly with various government agencies present. The most popular service was the NRD counter, which received about 140 applications for identity card replacements, 10 late birth registration applications, and 145 applications for MyKid. "A total of 138 advisory services were also provided to residents regarding documentation and citizenship rights," he said. Meanwhile, for Zulaina Alim, 30, a Temiar woman living in Pos Pasik, the programme marked a turning point in her life when she finally managed to register the birth of her child, who is now 12 years old. She said her child was born at the Kuala Betis resettlement scheme health clinic, but she had to return to her village, more than 70km away from Gua Musang shortly after giving birth, causing the registration to be delayed for more than a decade. "I came today solely to apply for the birth certificate and the process went smoothly. My child will finally have a birth certificate," she said. - Bernama
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
No financial constraints, Pos Balar bridge reconstruction to begin soon
GUA MUSANG: The reconstruction of the collapsed bridge at Pos Balar is now in the final stage of procurement and is expected to begin shortly, according to the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) director-general Datuk Sapiah Mohd Nor. She dismissed claims that financial issues had delayed the project, saying swift action was taken after the bridge collapsed on March 9. 'For any infrastructure project, including the Pos Balar bridge, procurement must comply with government procedures. 'This process involves budget allocation and technical assessments. The procurement decision has been finalised and construction is scheduled to start this month,' she said during a media briefing in Pos Pasik today. JAKOA has allocated RM400,000 for the project, which will see the construction of a more resilient and safer bridge for the remote Orang Asli community. 'The new design considers the area's geography and terrain, with weather conditions also influencing the construction specifications,' Sapiah said. Media reports yesterday noted that the collapsed bridge had yet to be repaired. The reports also called for intervention from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to expedite the reconstruction.
