Waytha acknowledges activist's frustration, promises action
National Unity and Social Wellbeing Minister P Waythamoorthy has asked for time and patience from the Orang Asli community, promising that his ministry will safeguard their rights.
He was responding to Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM) president Tijah Yok Chapil, who said on Monday that the indigenous community is disappointed that their rights are now being overlooked despite helping bring Pakatan Harapan to power...
National Unity and Social Wellbeing Minister P Waythamoorthy has asked for time and patience from the Orang Asli community, promising that his ministry will safeguard their rights.
He was responding to Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM) president Tijah Yok Chapil, who said on Monday that the indigenous community is disappointed that their rights are now being overlooked despite helping bring Pakatan Harapan to power.
"Bear with us," Waythamoorthy said in a direct response to Tijah, in which he reaffirmed his commitment that the Harapan administration will "ensure their rights are protected and preserved and we will continue to work towards it".
He added in a statement today: "I can assure them that the Harapan government is one that is inclusive of all citizens irrespective of their race, religion or creed."
Tijah had slammed Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu for describing the Orang Asli as "encroachers", arguing that the present situation of the community is worse than under the BN administration.
Waythamoorthy's ministry oversees the administration of the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa).
"My department is aware that the issue related to customary land are lands belonging to the Orang Asli that have been occupied, used, improved and settled by them for generations.
"They inherited these lands from their ancestors and lived on the lands as their forefathers had lived but the lands have been encroached upon without prior and informed consent in the past due to rapid deforestation and commercial development," he said.
Newly-appointed Jakoa director-general Juli Edo had set a different tone on May 17, when he went against the Perak MB's statement and defended an anti-logging blockade set up in the interiors of Gerik, which the Perak state government demolished the previous day.
Juli said the Kampung Tasik Cunex Orang Asli community were defending their ancestral land, which has been passed down over millennia.
"The community (erected the barricade) because of their pride and ethnohistory, which links them as direct descendants of the Perak Man who lived 13,000 years ago," he said.
The appointment of Juli (photo) in place of Ajis Sitin is said by insiders to be a move to ensure that issues affecting the Orang Asli are handled in a more proactive manner.
Waythamoorthy also cited the "unprecedented suit filed early this year by the AG’s Chambers in the High Court in Kota Baru", which seeks the legal recognition of the Temiar Orang Asli’s land rights, and injunctions to restrain private firms from encroaching on and destroying their land is one of the proactive actions taken by the federal government.
He acknowledged the Federal government's constitutional obligation to provide “for the protection, well-being or advancement of the aboriginal peoples of the Malay Peninsula” which includes the reservation of Orang Asli’s land, and expressed his disappointment that not all states were consistent in carrying this out.
"My department acknowledges that many of the states are not fully cognisant or somewhat inconsistent with judicial judgments in the higher courts in relation to the fundamental rights of the Orang Asli community in relation to the customary lands.
"We are constantly in communication with them to alleviate such issues when they arise with the local Orang Asli community, as well as working with them to resolve past encroachment and avoid future encroachment," Waythamoorthy added.
