Hundreds gather for World's Indigenous People Day

Three hundred Orang Asal, native rights activists and others gathered at Bagan Lalang Beach in Sepang, Selangor, today, to commemorate the World's Indigenous People Day (Hari Orang Asal Sedunia - HOAS) with a slew of activities aimed at educating and fostering understanding between Orang Asal and the public.
 
Coming by car, bike, bus, van and, for those from Sabah and Sarawak, by plane, Orang Asal from all across the nation converged upon the Bagan Lalang Beach this morning, to join in the national-level event in honour of the United Nations-declared celebration.
 
This year the celebrations were organised by the Malaysian Network for Indigenous People (JOAS) along with Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) and the Selangor chapter of the Orang Asli Association of Peninsular Malaysia (POASM), with the assistance of Tourism Selangor Sdn Bhd and the state government.
 
Decked in colourful traditional costumes and native gear, the Orang Asal coloured the Bagan Lalang Beach to showcase a living breathing cross section of Orang Asal customs, arts and culture as they mingled with the crowd and manned stalls and exhibitions filled with their creative works and to portray their livelihood with its closely-held links to nature.
 
A bevy of native performances was also presented to illustrate the rich and long-held traditions of the Orang Asals.
 
These range from the Sewang of the Mah-Meri, the Sumazau of Sabah and the Nyajat of Sarawak.
 
The stalls and exhibits showcased native handicrafts and works of art as well as the achievements of Orang Asal in their struggle to progress whilst maintaining their identity.
 
There were also exhibits which depicted the constant battle of the Orang Asal against the encroachment of outsiders, whose sweet promises of 'development' have often fallen far short of delivery.
 
Promises and dreams have often, instead, turned into nightmares for the Orang Asal as their native land are taken away without recompense, finding themselves oppressed and evicted from the lands they have lived and worked on for generations .
 
According to JOAS chairperson Adrian Lasimbang (below), the UN declaration of HOAS in 1994 was one of the milestones in the fight of Malaysian Orang Asal to win national and international recognition for their dignity and rights along with other indigenous peoples around the world.
 
The UN HOAS declarations was followed by the adoption of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which Lasimbang also said he hoped Malaysia would adopt towards bettering the lot of Orang Asal in the country.
 
"In Malaysia, the constitution and laws themselves already protect the Orang Asal's rights, but it is the government that ignore these rights.
 
"So we hope that the UNDRIP shall be a reminder to the government to recognise our rights," Adrian told Malaysiakini.
 
The three-day festivities with the theme "The diversity of cultures and traditions of Orang Asal" kicked off yesterday at the popular resort destination and will continue today, before officially ending tomorrow, which is the official date gazetted by the UN as World's Indigenous People Day.

The guest of honour at the festivities was senior Selangor executive councillor Elizabeth Wong (above in blue) who came in her capacity as head of the state's task force on native land rights.

While the day is celebrated every year by the Orang Asal since it was declared by the UN 16 years ago, it was mainly celebrated in the districts and villages because of costs and logistical considerations.
 
This year will be the first time in a long while that it is celebrated at the national level, joined in by Orang Asal from all over the peninsula as well Sabah and Sarawak.
 
According to Jenita Engi, this year's HOAS celebration coordinator, August 9 is considered a "sacred date" by the Orang Asal, something that they want to celebrate with their brethren and the public and to showcase the history of the Orang Asal's fight for their rights.
 
Lasimbang concurred, adding that they hoped that today's event will help educate Orang Asal on their rights as well as reach out to the public in order for them to understand the Orang Asal's struggles.
 
Suhakam commissioner Jannie Lasimbang (left) in her speech during the event agreed that part of Malaysia's progress in human rights must include the promotion and protection of native rights.
 
"This is part of Suhakam's mission, to work towards the government's ratification of the UNDRIP."