THE Perak government appears to be taking a leaf out of the previous Barisan Nasional administration’s book when it comes to managing the Orang Asli’s battle for their land.

On Monday, Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the term “ancestral land” was not recognised in the state constitution, essentially dismissing Perak Orang Asli’s land claims.

“There are 2.5 million people in Perak, and 60,000 of them are Orang Asli.

“What if the other races also want ‘tanah adat’? Do we divide up land for them?”

Faizal’s stance not only reveals his ignorance of the historical realities of indigenous peoples, but is also a cutting denigration of a community of Malaysians who have suffered nothing but insults and oppression, and have been disregarded since independence.

As menteri besar, especially one from the ruling pact, Faizal’s duty is to lead all Perakians, including Orang Asli. But, as with the previous administration, the temptation to ignore this “insignificant” voter base has become too strong.

Nationwide, Orang Asli are trying to push back against government-sanctioned development encroaching on their land and homes. Their almost non-existent success rate is a big shame for the country.

The community’s jungles and land represent more than just their heritage, more than just an acknowledgment of their place in Malaysian history. Their land is their life, and from which they draw their purpose.

According to the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns, in 2000, the Orang Asli made up slightly more than 140,000 of the country’s population – a mere 0.5%. And yet, the poverty rate for Malaysia’s true indigenous people stood at a shocking 77%. Their average life expectancy is 53 years, far below the national average of 72.85.

Too small a number to make a difference at the ballot box, the community’s welfare and future appear doomed to be only an afterthought of government policy.

Along with a handful of activists and civil society groups, the then opposition Pakatan Harapan had been eager to fight against Orang Asli oppression. Hopes ran high among activists after PH won federal power last year, especially since some of the pact’s leaders had become outspoken defenders of the community when it came to land rights.

Faizal’s comments not only contradict his PH colleagues’, but also reek of the arrogance and dismissiveness of remarks made by his BN predecessors. Even though his views do not reflect the government’s official stance, the fact that he was emboldened to publicly make such statements and dismiss Orang Asli’s claims is a gloomy forecast of what is to come.

PH needs to do more than beat its chest and declare itself as a government for all Malaysians. Its leaders cannot plead ignorance, given that many of them were, at one time or another, at the forefront of the fight for greater recognition of Orang Asli rights.

A government that refuses to value a minority community cannot be trusted to govern the majority.

We have a chance to correct the wrongs of the past decades, and do right by future generations of Orang Asli. Sadly, we do not seem to be taking this privilege seriously.

In terms of representation, the Orang Asli may not count for much. But their welfare and future indicate the health of the country’s soul. Malaysians will lose much more than a rich national heritage if we allow the Orang Asli to fade into oblivion. – July 31, 2019.

* Julia Yeow has been in journalism for two decades and counts it as her first love, despite enjoying brief stints as a lecturer, clown and salad maker. She is a strong believer in social justice, and holds that there is sometimes more truth in the greys, than the blacks and whites.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.