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In a bid to preserve the identity and culture of the Orang Asli community in peninsular Malaysia, certain quarters at a recent seminar in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, called for the official recognition of indigenous leadership.

Presently, the Orang Asli Act of 1954 which governs the affairs of the indigenous community recognises the ketua kampung or village chief only.

Apart from the fact that the ketua kampung is appointed by the rural and regional minister, he is also overshadowed by the Department of Orang Asli Affairs (JHEOA) as the sole authority administering the welfare of the country's 147,000 Orang Asli.

Advocates now want other indigenous leadership positions such as penghulu , ketua kampung , datuk batin , bomoh , pawang , dukun , lembaga adat (board of traditions) and majlis orang-orang tua (council of elders) be brought into the administrative framework of local government.

However, there is concern that legal recognition of the Orang Asli's traditional leadership structures will lead to their co-optation into mainstream politics along with its many unsavory features.

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