The Bar Council wants the government to consider the Orang Asli view over the proposed amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 before passing the Bill.

Council president Ragunath Kesavan said the government should invite the Orang Asli for an open discussion in a forum to share their view over the amendments to the act which provides for the setting up and establishment of the Orang Asli Reserve Land.

"Just consult them (Orang Asli) on the amendments and ask what the Orang Asli want, their views...also give them a copy of the amendments," he told reporters after the council's Committee on Orang Asli Rights (Coar) workshop on 'Native Title Rights-the Issues, Claims and the Law' today.
    
Ragunath said the rights of the Orang Asli had not been recognised in the Federal Constitution since there was no mention about the Orang Asli.

Nine court cases pending

Meanwhile, Coar deputy chairman Steven Thiru said there was only one  specific provision which touched on the Orang Asli under Article 8(5)(c) in the Federal Constitution which allowed the government to pass the law in favour of the Orang Asli.

He said the provision was only used recently by the court in a landmark case, Sagong Tasi versus Selangor Government, which recognised the Orang Asli’s right to land.

On the number of Orang Asli cases pending in court, he said there were nine.

Coar chairman S Ambiga said, the objective of the workshop was to create awareness among Orang Asli, lawyers and the public over the rights of the Orang Asli.

Eighty participants, comprising lawyers, students and representatives from the Orang Asli, attended the workshop.

- Bernama

Lawyers arm themselves for native rights battles