Kuala lumpur: The amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134), currently being drafted by the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), are expected to give the Minister the power to appoint council members with specific knowledge and expertise in Orang Asli affairs.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Rubiah Wang, stated that this move aligns with the proposal to establish the Orang Asli Consultative Council for Peninsular Malaysia, which will be modeled after the New Zealand Maori Council (NZMC). The establishment of this council aims to strengthen the voice and aspirations of the Orang Asli through a more robust legal framework. This initiative is in line with the self-determination principle outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which Malaysia has supported since 2007.
Rubiah further elaborated that the council will emulate the NZMC model, which has successfully promoted the social, economic, educational, and cultural development of the Maori people. To ensure that the views of the Orang Asli are considered in the amendments, including provisions related to land, the ministry has gathered feedback from 1,336 respondents, including various stakeholders and the Orang Asli community. The ministry has conducted engagement sessions, workshops, and town halls to ensure that the Orang Asli, as key stakeholders, have their views included in a comprehensive and inclusive manner. The proposed amendments have also been presented at the Meeting of Chief Ministers and Menteri Besar (MBKM) and the National Land Council (MTN), and are expected to be tabled in Parliament in 2026.
In a related development, Deputy Minister of Human Resources, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad, highlighted the ministry’s commitment to developing the talents of huffaz (those who have memorized the Quran) by offering initiatives to ensure they have access to relevant skills training. The development of huffaz talents is facilitated not only through institutions under the ministry, such as the Advanced Technology College (ADTEC JTM) in Selandar, but also through other training institutions across ministries. Under the governance of the National Skills Development Council (MPKK), KESUMA has established a subcommittee (JKK) for TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) in Tahfiz to ensure inclusive skill development for tahfiz institutions and religious schools.