Summary of Information in the application

BASIC INFO

Orang Asli are defined as “Aboriginal Peoples” or “Original Peoples” or “First People”.

RELIGION

Orang Asli are traditionally animists. However, many of them embraced monotheistic religions such as Islam, Christianity and Hinduism.

LANGUAGES

They have several languages which are Semelai, Temuan, Jahaic, Senoic, Semelaic, Jah Hut, and many more. They also able to speak national language “ Bahasa Melayu” fluently.

ETHNICS & SUB-ETHNICS

There are 3 ethnic groups which are Semang (Negrito), Senoi, Proto Malay (Aboriginal Malay). From this, they divided to plenty of sub ethnics. They are Bateq, Semai, Jahai, Kensiu, Kintaq, Lanoh, Mendriq, Chewong, Jah Hut, Mah Meri, Semak Beri, Temiar, Jakun, Orang Kanaq, Orang Kuala, Orang Seletar, Semelai and Temuan.

POPULATION

Their existence is 0.5% from the total Malaysians which has been estimated 148,000. The largest groups are Senois which cover 57%, Proto Malays form 43% and Semang 3 percent. Their life expectancy is slightly lower than ordinary people which is 53 years old.

HISTORY

Orang Asli had become slave in 18 to 19 centuries. The slave-riders are from Bataks and local Malays. This people had swop down orang Asli settlement and kill the adults, captured women and kids to make them slave. Orang Asli were called sakai as it meant slave.

Orang Asli also had become target of Christian missionary. They were also subjects of anthropological research until now. During the British and Japanese colonials, Orang Asli helped the Malaysian Communist Party fought against Japanese and British to fight for the Independence of Malaya. The Departnment of Aborigines was established in 1950 by the British to win the hearts of the Orang Asli. Following years in 1954 the “Aborigines peoples Ordinance” was established.

CONSTITUTION

There was no protection for Orang Asli until late 1940s. They are also left out of the categories of people who are accorded special previlages under article 153.

Orang Asli have been mentioned 4 times in the constitutions.

• Article 8(5)(c), which legitimizes discriminatory legislation in favour of Orang Asli by way of provisions in the law of their protection, well-being and advancement (including the reservation of land) or the reservation to aborigines of a reasonable proportion of suitable positions in the public service.

• Article 45(2), which provide for the appointment of Senators “capable of representing the interest of the aborigines”.

• Article 160(2) which rather unhelpfully defines an aborigine as “an aborigine of the Malay Peninsula” and Ninth Schedule; List 1 that vests upon the Federal Government legislative authority for the “welfare of the aborigines”.

• Article 89, where an indirect reference to Orang Asli is inferentially made in with regard to Malay Reservations.