Laws related to Orang Asli to be amended, says Zahid

 

The government would run extra classes and organise motivational programmes for Orang Asli students to achieve the annual target of placing 300 of them in universities. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 will be tabled soon to better ensure the rights of the Orang Asli community, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

The amendments, he said, would focus on the registration of marriages and births in the community as well as access to foraging areas.

Zahid, who is also the rural and regional development minister, said the government wanted to ensure that the traditional marriages were recognised under the law.

Amendments to the Act, also known as Act 134, would also focus on matters pertaining to land ownership. Zahid said the amendments were needed as there were currently “some constraints” related to the National Land Code and state legislations on land matters.

“We want the Orang Asli to be given the opportunity to protect their interests and we are committed to ensuring this happens,” he said after visiting the department of Orang Asli development.

Zahid also said the government would run extra classes and organise motivational programmes for Orang Asli students to achieve the annual target of placing 300 of them in universities. - FMT