NGOs instigated to sow discord? Dept head under fire

 

A group of Orang Asli with their own ‘election manifesto’ in October last year, just before the general election. (JKOAK Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: A network of Orang Asli groups and other NGOs have hit out at the director-general of Orang Asli development, Sapiah Nor, over a claim of some groups being instigated to sow discord.

Sapiah’s claim was made in an Utusan Malaysia report which quoted her as saying that several NGOs representing the community told her that they would lose their funding if they do not stir up issues related to Orang Asli land.

She reportedly said the matter came to light after an engagement session between the department and NGOs, though she declined to name the relevant groups. She also claimed that a certain commission wanted to see the Orang Asli continue living in an undeveloped environment, though she again did not name the body.

Sapiah Nor.

In a statement today, Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia said Sapiah’s claims were untrue and that it was “shocking” for the director-general to make such an allegation.

“The alleged claims by the NGO leaders mentioned by the director-general are not only untrue, but also belittles the struggles of the Orang Asli NGOs. It also implies that the NGOs can be easily manipulated by other parties for their own benefit,” said the network’s chairman, Tijah Yok Chopil.

Tijah said Orang Asli land is very important to the community as it is tied to their survival, culture and history, adding that it is their right under the Federal Constitution to raise concerns on land issues.

She urged Sapiah to reveal the names of the groups and leaders involved in order to truly shed light on these claims. “We hope the director-general is ready to take responsibility for her statement and that she is sincere in clearing the air.” - FMT