THE government is conducting a review of the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134) that involves registering marriages and land ownership of the Orang Asli community. 

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said a legal framework development study and mechanism for the administration of Orang Asli marriages and divorces in Peninsular Malaysia had commenced on September 15. 

“The issue of Orang Asli land, which will also be considered in the review of Act 134, needs to be studied comprehensively as it involves overlapping authorities,” he said when winding up the debate on the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan in Dewan Rakyat today. 

Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, said moves to bring progress to the Orang Asli community had been outlined in the Department of Orang Asli Development strategic plan. 

He said the plan would raise the community’s quality of life via the provision of comprehensive infrastructure in all their villages. 

Zahid added that 350 Orang Asli students had been accepted into universities last year, which exceeded the original ministry target of 300 people.  

“For the following year (2023), we are targeting 400 students, and we are confident of getting almost 500 Orang Asli students into universities.  

“This is a social assimilation method carried out through the restructuring of the Orang Asli community and we will not compromise on their quality of education,” he added. – Bernama, September 18, 2023.