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newstraitstimes
2010/05/30
By Abdul Jabar Che Nai
His female companion, in a grass skirt, will await his return in a hut. Naked children will be playing in the mud outside. But times have changed.
Salina is the epitome of a modern Asian woman; soft-spoken, well-mannered and smart. You can meet her if you like. Not at the Orang Asli settlement, but at her blog www.akusalina.blogspot.com. Or how about that young lad, clad in t-shirt and jeans -- Shahar Koyok or Shaq. His piercing eyes and good looks would set many a young heart aflutter.
An upcoming artist with a string of solo exhibitions to his name, Shaq speaks reasonably good English. He also keeps a blog at www.aboriginalasianart.blogspot.com.
Shaq and Salina are far from ordinary. They are both proud Orang Asli who have embraced the digital age and are moving forward to help their people prosper.
Whenever Malaysia decides to change anything for the better, it does so with resolve. One of its efforts is to better the lives of the Orang Asli, literally translated as "original people" of Malaysia.
The government knows that the most potent pill it can give them is education. Schools were set up and children with potential sent to boarding schools and later to higher learning institutions locally and abroad. It was at a boarding school that Shaq learnt to read, write and speak in English.
From 2004 to 2009, 384 Orang Asli students graduated from local and foreign universities. This year, five students were sent abroad under Mara scholarships while 12 others obtained places in public higher learning institutions. These efforts and many more are channelled through the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA), under the purview of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.
As a result, you see more Salinas and Shaqs today. Among them are Osman Busu, an Orang Kuala (UPM Bachelor of Education), Elwa Itam Wali, a Semai (Bachelor of Accountancy UUM), Nazaria Haron, a Temuan (Master of Science in Pharmacy USM) and many others, like Prof Juli Edo who has a PhD from Australian National University.
So how did Malaysia do it?
Prior to the country's independence, the Orang Asli were mired in poverty. They were also threatened by the communists during the insurgency. It was during this time, in 1954, that the Department of Orang Asli was established.
The department has today evolved into the JHEOA. Under the leadership of Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, it stays committed to its original quest.
There are now 147,412 Orang Asli, scattered deep in the central parts of Peninsular Malaysia. They are divided linguistically into three major ethnic groups; Proto Malays, Senoi and Negrito. These are further divided into clans -- Jakun, Semai, Temuan, Mahmeri and Che Wong. The largest population of Orang Asli (54,293) can be found in Pahang.
A total of RM149 million was allocated for the Orang Asli under the Seventh Malaysia Plan, RM337.8 million in the Eighth Plan and RM417.4 million under the Ninth Plan.
But relocating and introducing them to the modern world has to be done with great sensitivity, taking into account their deep respect for the rainforest and its inhabitants and their traditions and cultural beliefs. As such, the department has strived to allocate Reserve Land for them.
Housing was also planned. So far, 14,000 houses have been built, with another 5,000 planned for this year. They also have clean piped water in their homes.
JHEOA has also worked with Fama and the Malaysian Cocoa Board to ensure that all crops grown by Orang Asli are marketed.
Oil palm and rubber cultivation, as well as cattle and sheep breeding, are also being planned by JHEOA under its Regrouping Plan.
There are also 53 medical centres across the country, five transit centres and a JHEOA hospital that can accommodate 3,000 patients in Gombak. A total of 36,538 people have benefited from the medical centres.
Orang Asli will be provided facilities including retail space, sent for courses, and given the opportunity to take part in exhibitions here and abroad.
A senator has been appointed to serve as the conduit between the Orang Asli and the government. The present representative is Mohamed Olian Abdullah from the Melayu Proto-Semelai tribe.
The Orang Asli will not be left to be live artifacts of anthropological interest. They can now ride alongside fellow Malaysians, in the spirit of 1Malaysia.
Salina can keep writing and encouraging her people as she shares her thoughts with the world. Shaq can educate the world with his rich visuals. Together, we will make it.
Datuk Abdul Jabar Che Nai is Ministry of Rural and Regional Development secretary-general
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