From deforestation to resettlement, Orang Asli community continues fight for justice
HURIN EIN
Does modernisation really speak for everyone’s benefit? How about the Orang Asli community that prospers from the natural resources around them?
There is a saying that goes “hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri” (east west home is best).
This is what living within the forest means to the Orang Asli community.
There are a few populations more rooted in culture and collective history than the indigenous peoples of the world.
The word indigenous itself refers to nativity tied to a place, the land on which a community originates and grows over many generations.
Raman Bah Tuin, an Orang Asli from the Semai tribe said in the 70s, living in such a remote area, people thought that the Orang Asli community was poor.
“We are not poor, we are rich because we’ve got the forest as our source.
“The forest is similar to our market, we have plants, we have the groceries,” he said.
However, under the name of modernisation which is synonymous to development, forests have to pay the price of being replaced with bricks and concrete.
Raman said it was hard for them when the forest was taken away for development.
He said they were being transferred to another settlement with nothing, while the developers get to take their place with all the plantations in it.
“Our village is our everything. It is hard for us when the forest has been taken away for development.
“We have nothing left as our rights have been taken away,” he said in a documentary produced by the Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia in conjuntion with the EU International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples entitled "Suara Anak Bumi: Voices of the Indigenous People of Malaysia" highlighting the serious crisis faced by the Orang Asli in both their identity and lifestyle in the larger Malaysian society.
Raman said it was around the 80s that Malaysia moved towards modernity and things have changed since.
Unknowingly, the Orang Asli community were the ones who had to sacrifice the most for modernity as they were forced to move to other locations that might not necessarily benefit them, he said.
Yee Kuat, an Orang Asli of the Temuan tribe said each time they were being moved, they would end up in smaller places, which made it difficult for them to even grow crops like they used to before.
“So many Orang Asli have been evacuated from their lands without notice, so we were unable to expand our plantation area,” he said.
He said they did receive financial aids, but in his opinion this kind of assistance is not good for the long term and will make the situation much worse.
He said people need to know what the Orang Asli community really needs and the continuous relief fundings is not the best way.
The best, way he said was for them to learn how to go far in life.
Raman who also shared the same view said if the people are continuously being spoon-fed, they will become lazy.
“We should at least re-educate and guide our society, our children to be independent,” he added.
Another crisis accompanying their struggle aside from losing their way of life to deforestation is the loss of identity.
The land is what made them who they are.
“Heritage is extremely important and should be preserved because heritage is the symbol of our identity.
“As a Semai tribe member, I have to keep my tribe’s tradition alive,” Raman said.
Thus, in keeping the tradition alive, platforms like the Freedom Film Network that is backed by the EU play a vital role to disseminate the values and untold stories of the Orang Asli community to the public.
Freedom Film Network co-founder Anna Har said the platform aims at encouraging Malaysians to use films to tell stories of the marginalised and also to put forward alternative narratives that are seldom heard but are very important in our society.
Brenda Danker who is also a co-founder agreed on the importance of having such platform so that the stories and perspectives are also included in the national discourse.
An amazing outcome from the Freedom Film Network’s team is the support and training they gave to a group of young Orang Asli women who have managed to have their own Youtube channel “Apa Kata Orang Asli” to broadcast their rich culture and heritage.
One of the content creators of the channel, Eliana said that they have been receiving tremendous amount of support from the Orang Asli community.
“When they see an Orang Asli creating the video, teaching and beaconing others to learn together about our culture and heritage, unconsciously, they will feel very proud of their own culture,” she said.
Another content creator of the same channel, Diana said it is important that the Orang Asli have platforms like this to push forward issues regarding the community to the public.
“We have a really big responsibility to fulfil to the community,” she said.
As noble as the girls’ initiative in maintaining the Orang Asli’s heritage, it could not be ignored that the main issue in jeopardy of the Orang Asli’s livelihood is deforestation.
Thus, government initiatives and international partnerships play a key role to preserve and protect the lives of the Orang Asli community.
Official agreements like the European Timber Regulation aim to stop the illegal trading of timber which affects the homes and lands of the Orang Asli.
Meanwhile, international partnerships like the EU-Malaysian Partnership Agreement can work together towards the banning of illegal timber and contends for the improvement of forest governance.
The public must play our role to educate themselves and instil self-awareness regarding issues pertaining to the Orang Asli community.
Even though our lives are not too integrated with the lives of the Orang Asli, they still share the same blood of being a Malaysian citizen.
We should be steadfast in our dedication to the betterment of the lives of the Orang Asli so that they will have equal rights as other Malaysian citizens and live a peaceful life, with no controversies.
The Orang Asli continues to live under conditions that are less favourable to someone who does not know the real situation.
From deforestation to resettlement to being stripped of their rights, their fight for justice continue on.
For contributions to any Orang Asli initiatives, visit www.coac.org.
