The Orang Asli are always consulted in matters pertaining to their development, stressed the minister in charge of aboriginal development.

NONE “If some people are saying that (they were never consulted), that is not true,” said Rural and Regional Development Minister Shafie Apdal ( left ) during a press conference in Bangi today.

He was asked to respond to claims made recently by Orang Asli NGOs that the new amendments to the Land Act which will significantly impact the status of native customary land were formulated without their input.

Amongst their concerns are that the two parcels of land promised to each Orang Asli household, one for for housing and another for agriculture, are not only inadequate but also does not take into account the hundreds if not thousands of of acres of ancestral land that they stand to lose for such paltry consideration.

But more seriously, NGOs like the Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung (JKOASM) and Jaringan Orang Asli Semenanjung (JOAS) are alleging that the amendments were made without the consent nor consultation with the Orang Asli who are affected stakeholders.

“They may make those claims. Don’t listen to them,” he said, adding that his ministry and the Orang Asli Development Derpartment (JAKOA) are in constant engagement with the community to hear their concerns.

His officers, he said, are on the ground week in and week out canvassing the Orang Asli villages.

Shafie spoke at the press conference after launching the five-year strategic plan for Orang Asli development formulated by and to be implemented by the JAKOA.

‘Draft amendment not made available’

Shafie however admitted that the draft of the proposed amendments to the Land Act concerning Orang Asli land, was not yet made available to aboriginal NGOs, the Bar Council and the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), all of whom have asked to be given sight of the draft.

The minister insisted that the draft has taken into consideration not only the views of the Orang Asli but of the Bar Council and Suhakam as well.

Orang Asli demo at putrajaya He said that right from receiving the protest memo from grassroots Orang Asli over the proposed amendments in Putrajaya last year, he and his ministry continually engaged all those concerned in discussions and workshops.

In his speech launching the JAKOA initiative earlier, Shafie likened the NGOs’ complaints and similar concerns voiced by the opposition to “discordant songs” that promised “the sun, moon and stars” but are often fell short of achieving anything concrete.

“I admit that the plans in place may not be perfect, if they are suggestions that can improve it, we are open to them and will listen.

“But please do not try to stop plans that are for the benefit of the Orang Asli,” he told the audience made up of Orang Asli, ministry officials and JAKOA officers.

‘Change Pakatan rule in states, not the flag’

Asked about the recent controversy over the recent proposal that the national flag be changed, Shafie dismissed it as an opposition attempt to garner public attention by an opposition bereft of any real issues to bring up.

“We shouldn’t be talking about changing the flag, but about changing the state governments in Kelantan, Kedah, Penang and Selangor,” he joked.

He said that the question that should be asked to the opposition is, “Are they willing to change their rocket or moon flags?”