CAMERON Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor wants amendments to the Federal Constitution that will allow Orang Asli (OA) land ownership. 

The country’s first OA lawmaker said the OA community nationwide has to deal with all sorts of issues with land they live on, resulting in hardship when the area is claimed for development. 

“I think the amendments can be done with all the MPs in Dewan. Let’s amend and place the OA under the concurrent list.This will be able to solve their land issues.

“Another way is by making amendments to the national land code by recognising the existence of OA ancestral land,” he said during the debate on the royal address in Dewan Rakyat today.

The concurrent list allows Parliament and state legislative assemblies to make laws on the same matters – provided the laws do not overlap or are in conflict.

There are 217,000 OA in Malaysia, most of them living in Perak and Pahang. 

In recent times they have been in conflict with the authorities after their lands where their settlements are have been alienated for development. 

Some of the tribes facing issues are Temuan tribe in Kuala Langat, Semelai tribe in Bera and Temerloh in Pahang, Mah Meri community in Bagan Lalang, and others nationwide. 

Ramli said the solution to the OA land issue will require the amendments to a few main laws. 

“Amendments need to be made to the constitution to solve the OA land issue as the federal (government) is responsible for the OA.

“As for the land, it’s under the purview of the states. The states can also implement an enactment related to OA land.

“In addition, the OA Act needs to be amended by strengthening it from the perspective of land ownership.”

Ramli also asked the ministry in charge how much of land has been gazetted for OA nationwide. 

“And how many villages have yet to be gazetted and when will it be done? 

“I hope that it can be done during the 12th Malaysia Plan.” 

Another issue Ramli raised was on healthcare for OA, and the Health Ministry’s role in ensuring that the welfare of OA is taken care of. 

“Before this, it (healthcare) was under the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa), where there were hospitals especially for OA. 

“Government policy then placed it under the responsibility of the Health Ministry.” 

He said OA live in the outskirts and if they visit hospitals, they will have to pay. 

“So, how can this community afford it? Eventually, what’s going to happen to that sickly person?

“Sometimes they get help from their elected representatives and people.”

He said Jakoa and the Health Ministry must work together for the welfare of the OA.

“There must be a committee to coordinate better policies for the OA.” – March 9, 2022.