The government yet again forgot about the Orang Asli when it submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) document to the United Nations last month, the Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (Joas) said.

“The INDC omitted any mention of the role of Orang Asli in indigenous land and forest management in its climate change strategies…

“(This) despite the recognition by the United Nations and other research reports that forests managed by the Orang Asli are critical to fight climate change,” Joas said in a statement.

Joas thus urged the government to consult the indigenous group in formulating policy against climate change.

“Our message to the Malaysian government delegation at the 2015 Paris Climate Change (COP21) is, again, to respect us in our own right,” it said.

The COP21 aims to reach a legally binding agreement on climate, to keep global warming below 2°C.

Malaysia is promising to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 45 percent of GDP by 2030, compared to 2005.

This consists of 35 percent unconditional and a further 10 percent upon receipt of climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building from developed countries.