Give Orang Asli equal benefits under Mara, says activist

Colin Nicholas says that as Bumiputera, the Orang Asli ought to be entitled to receive all the benefits offered by Majlis Amanah Rakyat.

(FMT) – An activist has called on Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) to commit more resources towards empowering the Orang Asli, saying they should already have full access to all its benefits as part of the Bumiputera community.

“By right, the Orang Asli should already be entitled to the benefits of whatever Mara sets out to do,” Colin Nicholas, coordinator of the Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) told FMT.

For that reason, Nicholas said there was no need to set up a similar body dedicated to the affairs of the Orang Asli, as suggested by Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Nor last month.

Ramli had said that the new statutory body could replicate Mara’s success in producing many Malay and Bumiputera professionals, adding that its efforts have gone some way towards alleviating poverty in the country.

Ramli, the only Orang Asli member in the Dewan Rakyat, also said the Orang Asli department (Jakoa) has been ineffective in that regard. He said Jakoa’s representatives in each district were merely the equivalent of senior clerks, and had no authority to make important decisions without referring to their superiors.

On Saturday, Rashid Ka’, president of Parti Orang Asli Malaysia (Asli), dismissed Ramli’s proposal and instead called for Jakoa to be revamped. He said the department’s current management was weak and had failed to introduce reforms capable of benefiting the community, including by helping them overcome poverty.

Citing the prevailing poverty level among the Malays, Nicholas said even the approach Mara has taken is “not working”.

Earlier this year, economy minister Rafizi Ramli said the Bumiputera poverty rate in 2022 stood at 7.9%, followed by the Indians (5.4%) and Chinese (1.9%).

“Having a similar body specifically for the Orang Asli will not work either,” said Nicholas.

He also said a Mara-like body just for Orang Asli would perpetuate negative perceptions about the community, including that they are poor.

“It assumes all Orang Asli are in need of support,” he said.

In any case, he said there was no guarantee that those running such an institution would not exploit their position for personal gain.

Nicholas also said institutions set up along racial lines were bound to be riddled with abuse.

“They should cater to specific sectors in need of support, such as the hardcore poor, irrespective of ethnicity,” he said.