With a general election in the wind and various parties seeing it as an opportune time to make demands, the Orang Asli have also jumped on the bandwagon, reminding the government, or any politician for that matter, that they too, are voters.
"We are sick and tired of an outdated 54 year old party, which continues to ignore our rights," said Tijah Yok Chupil (right), an activist from the Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM), in a obvious reference to BN.
She was speaking today at a joint press conference in Kuala Lumpur with Jaringan Orang Asli Semenanjung (Joas), a confederation which represents Orang Asli from the seven Malaysian states with significant aboriginal populations.
"From now on we will vote for politicians and parties that listen to us. Politicians that are sincere in ensuring our rights and are transparent about it," Tijah said.
Amongst their grouses which she says remains ignored by the BN-controlled federal government, is the new Orang Asli land policy which aims to take away thousands of acres of native land in exchange for two parcels of land to each household.
"We want official acknowledgment of our native land. Not land titles," she said, arguing that the large swathe of native orang Asli land which is part and parcel of their life and culture, cannot be compensated with mere housing and agricultural plots allotted to each household.
In the new land scheme, each household will receive one plot for housing and another agricultural plot to be managed by JKOA in the style of Felda schemes.
"We were not consulted nor shown the draft of the new native land policy...Any Orang Asli who agreed to the deal must be stupid to agree only to a small piece of land for housing and not even think about reserving burial land."
She repeated the community's criticism of the way the authorities kept their draft of the proposed amendments close to their chest denying access not only to Orang Asli representatives, but also those from the Bar Council and the Malaysian Human Rights Commission.
Tijah added that in her personal opinion as well as conversations with Orang Asli in the villages, in general the Orang Asli are tired of federal government inaction and in particular with the Orang Asli Development Department (JKOA).
False claims
Another Joas official, Shafei Deris, also accused the department of making false claims regarding Orang Asli acceptance of the new policy.
The truth, he said, is far from the rosy depiction by JKOA, as many Orang Asli are in opposition of the policy, including many Tok Batins (village heads) and village committee for development and security (JKKK) members who touted to support the move by the department.
"Tok Batins cannot say anything. There is a clause in their appointment letter that say they cannot question JKOA.
"The same with the members of JKKK, their regulations say they are only implementers of government policy, they cannot question. If they do, they can lose their posts," Shafei claimed.
Yusri Ahon from Joas decried the treatment of Orang Asli at the hand of the federal government and the JKOA.
"When they need us they give us grass so that we will come, like animals to the slaughter. But when we are not needed, we are sidelined. Don't treat us like animals," he stated.
Abolish JKOA, Orang Asli Act
Tijah also called for the abolition of the JKOA and the Orang Asli Act, urging society to recognise that Orang Asli concerns are indeed a national concern and Orang Asli rights are human rights just like other citizens.
These institutions, she proposed, propagate the marginalisation of Orang Asli and isolate them from the mainstream.
What they want is to be treated and given the same rights like other Malaysians and be given the choice to develop their own land as they see fit, not according to some department which continue to twist and turn their fates because of some agenda.
She also decried the government's criticism of Orang Asli standing up for their rights as the product of being stirred up by NGOs and opposition.
Tijah repeated that Orang Asli rights is a national concern that should involve everyone and that they are standing up for their rights out of their own volition and not from any coercion.
"We are sick and tired of an outdated 54 year old party, which continues to ignore our rights," said Tijah Yok Chupil (right), an activist from the Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM), in a obvious reference to BN.She was speaking today at a joint press conference in Kuala Lumpur with Jaringan Orang Asli Semenanjung (Joas), a confederation which represents Orang Asli from the seven Malaysian states with significant aboriginal populations.
"From now on we will vote for politicians and parties that listen to us. Politicians that are sincere in ensuring our rights and are transparent about it," Tijah said.
Amongst their grouses which she says remains ignored by the BN-controlled federal government, is the new Orang Asli land policy which aims to take away thousands of acres of native land in exchange for two parcels of land to each household.
"We want official acknowledgment of our native land. Not land titles," she said, arguing that the large swathe of native orang Asli land which is part and parcel of their life and culture, cannot be compensated with mere housing and agricultural plots allotted to each household.
In the new land scheme, each household will receive one plot for housing and another agricultural plot to be managed by JKOA in the style of Felda schemes.
"We were not consulted nor shown the draft of the new native land policy...Any Orang Asli who agreed to the deal must be stupid to agree only to a small piece of land for housing and not even think about reserving burial land."
She repeated the community's criticism of the way the authorities kept their draft of the proposed amendments close to their chest denying access not only to Orang Asli representatives, but also those from the Bar Council and the Malaysian Human Rights Commission.Tijah added that in her personal opinion as well as conversations with Orang Asli in the villages, in general the Orang Asli are tired of federal government inaction and in particular with the Orang Asli Development Department (JKOA).
False claims
Another Joas official, Shafei Deris, also accused the department of making false claims regarding Orang Asli acceptance of the new policy.
The truth, he said, is far from the rosy depiction by JKOA, as many Orang Asli are in opposition of the policy, including many Tok Batins (village heads) and village committee for development and security (JKKK) members who touted to support the move by the department.
"Tok Batins cannot say anything. There is a clause in their appointment letter that say they cannot question JKOA.
"The same with the members of JKKK, their regulations say they are only implementers of government policy, they cannot question. If they do, they can lose their posts," Shafei claimed.
Yusri Ahon from Joas decried the treatment of Orang Asli at the hand of the federal government and the JKOA.
"When they need us they give us grass so that we will come, like animals to the slaughter. But when we are not needed, we are sidelined. Don't treat us like animals," he stated.
Abolish JKOA, Orang Asli Act
Tijah also called for the abolition of the JKOA and the Orang Asli Act, urging society to recognise that Orang Asli concerns are indeed a national concern and Orang Asli rights are human rights just like other citizens.
These institutions, she proposed, propagate the marginalisation of Orang Asli and isolate them from the mainstream.What they want is to be treated and given the same rights like other Malaysians and be given the choice to develop their own land as they see fit, not according to some department which continue to twist and turn their fates because of some agenda.
She also decried the government's criticism of Orang Asli standing up for their rights as the product of being stirred up by NGOs and opposition.
Tijah repeated that Orang Asli rights is a national concern that should involve everyone and that they are standing up for their rights out of their own volition and not from any coercion.
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