States have more power on Orang Asli land than Putrajaya - DPM

 

PARLIAMENT | States have more rights over land matters, such as Orang Asli reserves, than Putrajaya, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was based on the Ninth Schedule (State List) of the Federal Constitution.

“Under the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954, the director-general of the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) must be consulted on any matter involving Orang Asli land, the state governments have more rights on land matters based on Ninth Schedule (State List) of the Federal Constitution.

“The federal government, through Jakoa and the state governments, have an understanding and commitment to defend Orang Asli reserves that are gazetted through various laws to ensure that the interest of the Orang Asli is protected,” he said.

Zahid said that the interest of the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia are protected under Article 8(5)(c) of the Federal Constitution, the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954, and the National Land Code.

Deputy Prime Minister cum Rural and Regional Development Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

He said this in a written reply to Hassan Abdul Karim (Pakatan Harapan-Pasir Gudang) who asked the minister what guarantees can the federal government provide to protect Orang Asli reserves in Peninsular Malaysia under the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 and the National Land Code to ensure that Orang Asli land cannot be transferred to others.

In March, Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar requested the state to declare all Orang Asli reserves and villages as sultanate land to prevent the misappropriation of the land.

The ruler said this was necessary to prevent abuse of land alienated to the Orang Asli.

Johor’s Sultanate Lands Enactment states that plots as sultanate land are owned by the ruler and cannot be sold, leased, or disposed of without the sultan’s written permission.

This has been met with objections from the Johor Network of Orang Asli Villages, who prefer the current system where reserves are governed under the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 and the National Land Code. - Mkini