An Orang Asli association has protested the under-representation of the community at a forthcoming conference to amend the Orang Asli Act 1954, saying this reflects the marginalisation of this minority group.

Association of Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli (POASM) information chief Norya Abas said this lends credence to suspicion that, even in an event involving their future, the Orang Asli are being left out.

Orang Asli representatives will number only about 20 of the 100 delegates to the conference to be held in the middle of next month, while only three of the 14 working papers will feature speakers from the indigenous community.

"This should not happen. If it proceeds like this, it would be unfair. (It would mean that) the proposal to amend the Act and to plan for the Orang Asli's future will be determined by others. This goes against the Orang Asli's right to articulate their needs."

He said this on the sidelines of a three-day seminar held from Feb 25 by POASM in Negri Sembilan to discuss proposed amendments to the Orang Asli Act.

According to documents obtained by malaysiakini, representatives of ministries and universities, heads of departments and their deputies, and state executive councillors will be among the delegates who are not Orang Asli. Among those listed are a typist, clerk and driver.

The conference is being organised by the Department of Orang Asli Affairs (JHEOA), but an official refused to comment on the matter when contacted this morning.

"We have been ordered not to issue any statements. Only the minister (of rural and regional development) can speak on the issue," he said.

'Drowned out'

POASM member Elwan Awang Itam Wali, who heads the executive committee of Kampung Tangki Cermin in Perak, also decried the unfair representation of Orang Asli, saying this would lead to the minority voices being drowned out.

"Psychologically, this is not very good for the Orang Asli attending the conference. If there are 80-plus of them and only 20 of us, they could easily ignore our comments," he said.

"It's as if we represent that Act and they are there to attack our shortcomings. It should be the other way around - we should be going on the offensive because these departments are enforcing the provisions," he said.

Elwan, son of former Orang Asli Senator Itam Wali Nawan, suggested that a better composition would be one where the Orang Asli make up at least 40 percent of the delegates, even if the number of Orang Asli speakers is not increased.

"Even if we don't have many papers from our side, we should at least be able to have many supporters. That would provide a boost to the presenters who can speak with authority on our behalf," he added.

The Orang Asli Act was passed during the communist insurgency (1948-1960) by the British colonial government.

It has long been criticised for its ' paternalistic ' approach, such as its insurgency-era methods to manage the population of 147,000 Orang Asli.