Rural and Regional Development Minister Shafie Apdal has not discounted the possibility of outsiders trying to interfere and take advantage of the Orang Asli land issue.

shafie apdal and mps no defection pc 280808 04 Shafie said to avoid such interference, the ministry was taking necessary steps and initiatives to amend the Orang Asli Act 1954 to ensure the Orang Asli community's welfare.

"We have formed a focus group committee which includes Orang Asli and experts in Orang Asli affairs to hear their views, opinion and recommendations," he told the Dewan Rakyat when answering a question by Ismail Kasim (BN-Arau) who wanted to know if there was outside interference in the Orang Asli land issue.

Shafie said the ministry was still negotiating requests from the Orang Asli community with regard to land because it involves forest reserves, rivers, beaches and Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

kampung orang asli sungai tesong 120208 houses The Orang Asli community had wanted the government to review a proposal to award heads of households with just 2 acres of land for cultivation.

Orang Asli tribes have long complained of being forced from state-owned land to make way for development and claimed that they deserved ownership of the land because their ancestors settled there thousands of years ago.

- Bernama