Despite various poverty-related issues afflicting the Orang Asli, Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) argued that there is no shortage of funding or government programmes for them.

Instead, he said the agencies charged with improving the lot of the Orang Asli do not have common vision for the future, while the Orang Asli lose interest in development programmes due to ineffective implementation.

“For example […] the main implementing agency Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) don’t have the right staff capacity.

“Their staff structure is more suited for welfare programs, not development programs,” he told a forum organised by the Malaysian Left Coalition today.

In addition, he said there is a lack of engagement between the government and the Orang Asli on the development programmes.

The government appears to be more interested in assimilating the Orang Asli into Malay society than integrating them with the rest of Malaysian society.

Nicholas said that last week, there were two cases in Gua Musang where the Orang Asli father of a disabled child went to apply for an allowance from Jakoa, and then the Welfare Department.

In both cases, he said they declined to provide the allowance unless the applicants convert to Islam.

The government had also resorted to ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions to Orang Asli issues, he said, despite differences in culture, location, and other factors between different Orang Asli groups.

However, although the Orang Asli want development, Nicholas stressed that this must be done in line with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ (UNDRIP) principles of right to self-determination, as well as free, prior, and informed consent.

He said the Orang Asli cherish their autonomy, even above material goods.

“Yes they want development, but on their own land, at their own pace, and on their own terms,” he said.