Kuala Lumpur:The role and responsibilities of the Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli Advisory Council are set to be defined through amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134), which is expected to be presented in Parliament soon.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang stated that the council currently functions as a committee facilitating engagement between the government, the Orang Asli community, and relevant non-governmental organisations.

The amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 will formalize the council's establishment, detailing its role and responsibilities. This was discussed during the Question and Answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, where Rubiah responded to Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai) regarding the council's functions and the government's efforts to integrate its views into policy formulation.

Rubiah also highlighted initiatives for the socio-economic development of the Orang Asli community. The Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) offers entrepreneur grants ranging from RM9,000 to RM35,000 and cooperative grants up to RM200,000 to support business infrastructure. Additionally, agricultural modernisation programmes with financing between RM5,000 and RM300,000 are available to provide comprehensive assistance.

She encouraged the Orang Asli community to continue applying for these programs to ensure sustainable income generation and holistic local economic development.