SUHAKAM: Orang Asli - "...marginalised in a system similar to 'apartheid'..."

Orang Asli - marginalised and oppressed.

Special provisions, quotas, etc for Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak - but for the natives of Peninsular Malaysia. Hence, the Orang Asli (the indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia) are left out ....marginalised...

Suhakam vice-chairperson Simon Sipaun :- "I'm not surprised with the protest. It is expected that the Orang Asli community would protest as they have been marginalised in a system similar to 'apartheid'," he said without mincing his words.- Malaysiakini, 17/10/2010, Orang Asli marginalised by conditions akin to 'apartheid'

See Article 153 of the Federal Constitution that also makes no mention about the 'Orang Asli' of Peninsular Malaysia

153.  Reservation of quotas in respect of services, permits, etc., for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak.

(1) It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, but subject to the provisions of Article 40 and of this Article, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall exercise his functions under this Constitution and federal law in such manner as may be necessary to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak of such proportion as he may deem reasonable of positions in the public service (other than the public service of a State) and of scholarships, exhibitions and other similar educational or training privileges or special facilities given or accorded by the Federal Government and, when any permit or licence for the operation of any trade or business is required by federal law, then, subject to the provisions of that law and this Article, of such permits and licences....

SUHAKAM says it best - and challenges Malaysian Federal Government (and State governments) to correct this grave injustice...

Suhakam vice-chairperson Simon Sipaun said the Orang Asli protest in Putrajaya today is a cumulation of frustration among the indigenous community over a period of many years.

"I'm not surprised with the protest. It is expected that the Orang Asli community would protest as they have been marginalised in a system similar to 'apartheid'," he said without mincing his words.

The Suhakam commissioner described the Orang Asli community's demands such as recognition of their land rights and representation in the legislative assembly as “fair and proper”.

"I believe that they should be entitled to representation by their 'own people' in both Parliament and the state assembly," he said.

He added that they should also be given the same development priorities and preferential treatment enjoyed by the Malays.

When asked to comment on the government's response to cases involving Orang Asli brought up by Suhakam, he said: "The government has always been defensive when it comes to issues pertaining to Orang Asli issue."

He said government officers would generally respond: 'We have done everything for the Orang Asli community in line with the law'.

Sipaun, who is a Kadazandusun from Sabah, considered today's protest in Putrajaya as an Orang Asli's version of the 2007 Hindraf protest - an event which saw the awakening of the Indian Malaysian minority about their plight.

Failure of the NEP

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng (left), however, disagree that the protest can be equated with the Hindraf protest.

He said issues pertaining the Indian rights has been widely propagated through both mainstream and alternative media, while only a few alternative media carried news about the Orang Asli rights.

Khoo, said the protest, symbolises the failure of National Economic policy (NEP),which supposedly meant to advance the rights and welfare of the Orang Asli, among others.

'It should be a wake-up call for the government and they should now accommodate the needs of the Orang Asli rather than trying to slip its NEP's failure under the carpet," he added.- - Malaysiakini, 17/10/2010, Orang Asli marginalised by conditions akin to 'apartheid'

See also earlier post:- Orang Asli:- When the 'kings of the land' marginalized by 'princes of the land' and UMNO-led BN

Orang Asli:- When the 'kings of the land' marginalized by 'princes of the land' and UMNO-led BN

Orang Asli - the original people of Peninsular Malaysia, should be referred to as "kings of the land", as later arrivals to Malaysia, i.e. the Malays are being referred to as 'princes of the land' (the Bumiputera)

There are possible about 200,000 or more Orang Asli (indigenoue people of Peninsular Malaysia), and they have been discriminated against by the UMNO-led  BN government. [UMNO - United Malay National Organisation] . Even in our Federal Constitution, special positive discrimination provisions exist for the benefit of Malays and the Natives of Sabah & Sarawak - but not the Peninsular Malaysia's Orang Asli.

Even our Prime Minister shows no respect to the Orang Asli. When over 2,000 Orang Asli on 17/3/2010 marched to the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya in a rare protest against what they deem to be the government's unfair land policy. Their intention was to to hand over a memorandum, signed by 9,071 Orang Asli throughout Peninsular Malaysia, to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The police stopped the march, and also  were barred from raising their banners and chanting slogans.  The police diverted part of the group to the Ministry of Rural Development, about 500m away, where they were asked to see Rural Development Minister Shafie Afdal, who gave them lunch. Pacify and crush dissent, was that it? 

Then, a delegation of 5 were allowed to go to the Prime Minister's Office - but it was not the Prime Minister...or the Deputy Prime Minister...or even some Minister from the Prime Ministers Department that met them to receive their memorandum...but  Rural Development Minister Shafie Afdal. (or was it some 'officer'). To date the Prime Minister (or the Deputy Prime Minister), and that shows how much respect this UMNO-led BN has for the 'kings of the land'..

ORANG ASLI POPULATION STATISTICS

The data given below have been collated from various sources including government reports, official seminar presentations, newsreports and academic articles.

---

ORANG ASLI POPULATION TREND

Year	Orang Asli population
1960	43,896
1965	45,985
1969	52,943
1974	56,927
1989	72,039
1993	92,959
1998	116,119
2000	133,775
2003	147,412

---

ORANG ASLI POPULATION BREAKDOWN
as at 2000

Category	Ethnic subgroup	Population	Total
Negrito	Kensiu   Kintak   Jahai   Lanoh   Mendriq   Batek	254 150 1,244 173 167 1,519	3,507
Senoi	Semai  Temiar  Jah Hut  Che Wong  Mah Meri  Sema Beri	34,248 17,706 2,594 234 3,503 2,348	60,633
Aboriginal  Malay	Temuan  Semelai  Jakun  Orang Kanaq  Orang Kuala  Orang Seletar	18,560 5,026 21,484 73 3,221 1,037	49,401
			113,541

    The figures do not include those living outside designated Orang Asli settlements and centres.- Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) website

Cops halt Orang Asli advance on Putrajaya

Aidila Razak
Mar 17, 10, 12:06pm

 

Police today stopped more than 2,000 Orang Asli from marching to the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya in a rare protest against what they deem to be the government's unfair land policy.

The protest, dubbed the biggest Orang Asli demonstration in history by Centre for Orang Asli Concerns coordinator Colin Nicholas, was stopped by a contingent of police officers 15 minutes after the march kicked off.

The Orang Asli protesters arrived this afternoon at the country's administrative capital in 40 buses and gathered at the Putrajaya Mosque.

They had planned to march from the mosque to the Prime Minister's Department to hand over a memorandum, signed by 9,071 Orang Asli throughout Peninsular Malaysia, to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The group, comprising the young, old and even children, held banners declaring 'Tanah kami, maruah kami' (Our land, our dignity) and Kita bukan Melayu, kita tetap Orang Asli (We are not Malays, we will always be Orang Asli), among others.

Some of them were dressed in their traditional attire, complete with loincloths and colourful headgear made of flowers, tree bark and coconut leaves.

Re-routed by police

The police told the protesters not to display their banners and redirected half of the crowd to the nearby Ministry of Rural Development, about 500m away.

They were then met by Rural Development Minister Shafie Afdal who engaged the protesters in dialogue and treated them to lunch.

The Orang Asli were told not to march all the way to the Prime Minister's Department but were allowed to send five representatives to hand over the memorandum.

The protestors eventually agreed to send a five-member delegation to the PM's Department despite the request being initially boo-ed by the crowd.

The rest of the protest group were then made to wait at the sidewalk, and were again barred from raising their banners and chanting slogans.

Shafie, representing Najib, received two separate memoranda, under the watch of about 20 police officers, at the gates of the PM's Department, some 200 metres away from the protestors.

 

The first, by Persatuan Orang Asli Semenanjung president Majid Suhut, demanded that the community have a say over the Orang Asli representative in Dewan Negara.

The memorandum was first submitted to prime mnister last December.

The second memorandum was handed in by Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Perak (JKOAP) secretary Tijah Yokchopil and pertained to the land ownership policy.

In this memorandum, the Orang Asli cried foul over the lack of consultation and the fact that they will be denied autonomy over their land, which will be instead be managed by developers.

They also object to the fact that the land proposed for their allocation only includes 15 percent of recognised traditional Orang Asli land.

'Reasonable demands'

Upon receiving the memoranda, Shafie reassured the Orang Asli leaders that their recommendations will be taken into consideration when amendments to the National Land Act are tabled at the next parliamentary sitting.

"We open our ears to whatever grouses the public, in particular the Orang Asli, have. If anyone says we are depriving them, we are neglecting them, that's not true," Shafie (right) told reporters.

He said the protesters today came to Putrajaya to take photos as they have only seen the administrative capital on television.

"Some even took photos with me," he said.

Protestors cheered upon witnessing the handing over of memoranda, and triumphantly chanted 'Hidup Orang Asli' before dispersing at 3pm.

 

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, at a press conference in the Parliament lobby, assured that reasonable demands by the Orang Asli would be taken into account.

He said he was not aware of the protest and the community's demands but stressed that the government has always supported the Orang Asli and taken an interest in their welfare.

"If they are unhappy, they can submit their views on it and the department concerned will scrutinise it. If there is any proposition which is reasonable, we will do what is necessary," he said.

Today's protest was organised by the Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli Association (POASM) and the Network of Orang Asli Villages Perak.

According to coordinator Jenita Engi, representatives of seven states decided to demonstrate after negotiations with the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA) earlier this month came to a dead end.

Among the complaints were the fact that only six to eight acres of land will be allocated to each household.

"We demand that all the land explored by our ancestors should be handed over to us, and not just these six to eight acres," she told Malaysiakini yesterday.

Activists want Orang Asli claims to their customary land recognised, saying their continual occupation and economic activities establish their ownership.

The Orang Asli community is also demanding that all restrictions be removed to allow them the right to sell their land.

They said the land policy is to be part of a proposed amendment to Act 134 of the National Land Act, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament by June.

It's our land

According to the Orang Asli, the new legislation will give them only 50,000 hectares of the 129,000 they claim.

 

"Who are you to give the land when it is already the Orang Asli's," said Colin Nicholas (right), coordinator for the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns.

Nicholas said the planned amendment to the Aboriginal People's Act would give each family only two to six acres of land.

"Once they get this plot of land, they will lose (their rights to) other plots of land," he said.

Shafie confirmed the proposed amendment would give each each family two to six acres but said the terms were not final.

 

"This is not finalised so that's why we need their views. We are willing to listen," he said.

There are 140,000 Orang Asli divided into 18 ethnic groups - or less than one percent of the country's 28 million population - and they are generally disadvantaged in terms of income, health, education and living standards.

This is the second street protest by the Orang Asli this year, with the first having taken place in front of the JHEOA hospital in Gombak, Selangor, on Feb 24.

Orang Asli marginalised by conditions akin to 'apartheid'

Additional reporting and photos by AFP- Malaysiakini, 17/3/2010, Cops halt Orang Asli advance on Putrajaya

 

Bar Council Press Release: Lack of political will to uphold rights of indigenous peoples

Malaysian Bar Council

Press Release

Lack of political will to uphold rights of indigenous peoples

The Malaysian Bar is disappointed at the Government’s continuing lack of political will to promote and protect the welfare and rights of indigenous peoples throughout Malaysia. The Government’s inaction makes a mockery of its vote in favour of adopting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 (“the UN Declaration”).

Most recently, the Government refused to make public the report of the National Task Force established to investigate the allegations of sexual abuse against Penan women and girls. This refusal flouts democratic principles of transparency and accountability. The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development finally made the report publicly available only after pressure from various interest groups.

We are further disappointed that despite the Inspector-General of Police’s pledge of full support for a joint police-NGO investigative mission, the Sarawak police have now reportedly stated that the funds allocated for the project are not sufficient to fund the participation of NGO representatives.

The sexual abuse faced by the Penans is but one of a multitude of human rights violations that indigenous communities face on an ongoing basis, and which are inextricably inter-linked. Most indigenous persons are not able to fully enjoy their fundamental human rights because their traditions, customs and values are being eroded and their needs have been long neglected.

A crucial first step for the Government, in fulfilling its state obligation, is to formally recognise, protect and guarantee the right of indigenous peoples to their ancestral lands throughout the country and to gazette such ancestral lands as reserved areas for them. If necessary, land laws must be amended to achieve this.

We are concerned that many indigenous communities still live without basic amenities and infrastructure. It is within the context of the deprivation of their rights to ancestral lands and access to basic services that indigenous peoples have become vulnerable to sexual abuse and other violations of human rights. We strongly urge the Government to perform its duty by taking concrete steps to improve the welfare of indigenous peoples.

Finally, we denounce the wholly unnecessary arrest of 15 Sarawakian indigenous leaders on 16 September, who were reportedly detained as they attempted to deliver a memorandum to the Chief Minister to protest the building of hydro-electric dams that would adversely affect their communities.

The manner in which our nation deals with the needs and rights of these communities is a reflection of our commitment to democracy and human rights. In this, our leaders have failed.

Change is possible. More can, and must, be done.

We therefore echo our earlier call, made in a resolution that was unanimously adopted at the Malaysian Bar’s 63rd Annual General Meeting on 15 March 2009, that the Federal and State Governments, as well as all public and private enterprises and individuals, respect and protect the rights of indigenous peoples pursuant to the UN Declaration, and not act in any manner inconsistent with those rights.

Ragunath Kesavan
President
Malaysian Bar

18 September 2009

Malaysian Bar Resolution on indigenous peoples' rights

Malaysian Bar Resolution on indigenous peoples' rights, passed on 14th March 2009 at the 63rd Annual General Meeting of the Malaysian Bar held at the Grand Ballroom, Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

The Malaysian Bar,

taking note that Malaysia is a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council and is obliged to uphold the underlying values of international human rights laws and norms set out in, inter alia, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966;

taking note that Malaysia has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 1979 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989, and signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2006 which, inter alia, accords protection for vulnerable groups such as women, children and the disabled in Malaysia;

taking note that Malaysia voted, at both the United Nations Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly, in favour of adopting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 that, inter alia, reiterates the right of indigenous peoples to self-determination;

encouraged by the decision of the Court of Appeal in Kerajaan Negeri Selangor & Ors v Sagong Tasi & Ors [2005] 4 CLJ 169, which recognises the right of indigenous peoples in and over their ancestral lands at common law;

encouraged by the recent introduction and establishment by the Perak State Government (under Pakatan Rakyat) of an “Orang Asli Land Rights Task Force”;

deeply concerned that the ancestral lands of indigenous peoples are under constant threat in the name of “development” (as unilaterally defined and understood by the Federal and State Governments without consultation with, nor consent of, indigenous peoples);

deeply concerned that notwithstanding the fiduciary duty of the Federal and State Governments to promote and protect the welfare and rights of indigenous peoples, the latter are instead often coerced into relinquishing their ancestral lands to Government-linked or private enterprises, or under the pretext of integration;

deeply concerned that the Department of Orang Asli Affairs has failed to perform its fiduciary duty to empower indigenous peoples and assist with their welfare, but is instead complicit in the violation of the rights of indigenous peoples;

deeply concerned that the implementation of integration policies causing coerced resettlement of indigenous peoples removes them from their source of livelihood, their physical and spiritual way of life and their economic, social and cultural heritage which have been practised, and have evolved, over centuries;

deeply concerned that the majority of indigenous peoples are not able to fully enjoy their fundamental human rights as their traditions, customs and values are being eroded;

deeply concerned that the relevant authorities, in an attempt to justify their “development” policies and actions to resettle and integrate indigenous peoples, seek to portray indigenous peoples as resistant towards changes that are purportedly for their benefit;

deeply concerned that despite numerous requests and appeals to the relevant authorities, the ancestral lands of indigenous peoples have yet to be fully recognised and protected;

taking note that there is no simple nor single solution to the formal recognition and protection of these ancestral lands, as the problems encountered vary according to place and community;

taking note however that various options are available for the formal recognition and protection of these ancestral lands depending on the needs of the respective indigenous communities, inter alia:

(a)	the issuance of individual land titles to every indigenous family;
(b)	the gazetting of communal land parcels by the State Governments under Section 62 of the National Land Code 1965;
(c)	the gazetting of communal land parcels under the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 with perpetual and unlimited foraging rights extending beyond the gazetted communal land parcels; and
(d)	in exceptional cases of certain semi-nomadic indigenous communities, who are the most vulnerable of indigenous peoples, perpetual and unlimited foraging rights (with concomitant and greater opportunities for education and vocational training towards sustaining their livelihood);

deeply concerned that many indigenous communities still live without basic needs, amenities and infrastructure;

recognising that indigenous peoples are invaluable yet vulnerable communities whose livelihoods, cultures and lands are deserving of our protection;

1.	Strongly calls upon the Federal and State Governments, the Department of Orang Asli Affairs and all public and private enterprises and individuals to respect the rights of indigenous peoples pursuant to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007, and not to act in any manner inconsistent with those rights.
2.	Strongly calls upon the Federal and State Governments and the Department of Orang Asli Affairs, in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples, to take all appropriate measures, including legislative measures, to achieve the spirit and intent of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007.
3.	Strongly calls upon the Federal and State Governments, the Department of Orang Asli Affairs and all public and private enterprises and individuals to discontinue any “development” (as unilaterally defined and understood by the Federal and State Governments without consultation with, nor consent of, indigenous peoples), deforestation and logging activities on indigenous peoples’ ancestral lands until a process of consultation is conducted with the affected communities, and their free, prior and informed consent and cooperation are obtained.
4.	Strongly calls upon the Federal and State Governments, and the Department of Orang Asli Affairs, to formally recognise, protect and guarantee the right of indigenous in and over their ancestral lands throughout the country and to gazette such ancestral lands as reserved areas for them, and if necessary to amend our land laws to achieve the same. In cases of doubt, a mapping exercise in consultation and cooperation with indigenous peoples must be carried out.
5.	Strongly calls upon the Federal Government to organise and host a nationwide consultation with indigenous peoples, relevant bodies and interested parties to discuss, design and adopt a holistic programme of action to better the lives of indigenous peoples, including according every indigenous person the full extent of all rights guaranteed under international human rights laws and norms.
6.	Strongly calls for the establishment of an independent “High-Level Task Force on Orang Asli Affairs”, comprising representatives of indigenous communities, the Federal and State Governments, the Department of Orang Asli Affairs, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, the Attorney-General, non-governmental organisations, human rights groups and the Bar Council, to, inter alia, consider making amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 consistent with principles of international human rights laws and norms, and to formulate policies and co-ordinate initiatives to better protect the rights of indigenous peoples.
7.	Mandates the Bar Council to take and continue all appropriate and necessary action to implement, assist and empower indigenous peoples in their struggle to promote and protect their rights under international human rights laws and norms.

The motion was unanimously carried.

Sabah population increases by 285%, whilst Malaysia's population iincreases by only 113% - something is very wrong..

There are BIG questions that the Barisan Nasional government, currently led by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has got to answer about Sabah's "new" citizens - persons who have since 30 years ago have suddenly become Malaysian citizens or have acquired PR Status. (Children where 1 parent has PR status are automatically citizens)

Many have called it an 'illegal migrant problem' - but I think that label causes confusion, which result in Migrant Rights and Human Rights groups reacting thinking that we are talking about the undocumented migrant/refugee problem. {I believe the BN government likes to use the term "illegal migrant proiblem" to the Sabah situation just to cause the confusion.....Recall to that the recent government response was arrest and deport the undocumented migrants ---- very evasive and certainly not looking at the the Sabah "new" citizen problem...}

The Sabah problem is a "new citizen" problem. Who are these "new citizens"? How did they acquire citizenship? How do we now deal with these "new citizens" and their citizen children today? Recent revelations by MP for Sepanggar, Datuk Eric Majimbun also reveals that true original citizens are also in some cases are also losing their citizenship...

"(7) The discrepancy in the percentage increase between Kadazan, Dusun, Murut on the one hand and other Bumiputera between 1970 and 2000 i.e. 236 per cent and 631 per cent respectively; ...

(9) The discrepancies in the population increase between 1970 to 2000 in Sabah, Sarawak and Malaysia: 10,439,430 to 22,202,614 or up by 113 percent in Malaysia; 976,269 to 2,012,616 or up by 106 percent in Sarawak; and 636,431 to 2,449,389 or up by 285 percent in Sabah." - Malaysiakini, 6/10/2008 - Sapp: 'Loopholes' behind IC scam

These new facts, were amongst the many other points that were disclosed by MP for Sepanggar, Datuk Eric Majimbun. (See below for more points raised as found in the Malaysiakini report...)

Evidence of illegal issuance of MyKad to foreigners will be released by the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) tomorrow.

The MP for Sepanggar, Datuk Eric Majimbun, said he would reveal the details that led to a population explosion in the state.

"Just imagine, our population increased by 285 per cent between 1970 and 2000," he said. "I will bare all, including proof of people not born in Sabah becoming Malaysian citizens (in Sabah)." - The New Straits Times, 3/10/2008 - SAPP to show proof of Sabah MyKad scandal

Related to this, was the answer in Parliament in 2006 with regard the ethnic composition of Sabahans

Who are the “Other Bumiputera” and Other Ethnic Groups” in Sabah? According to an answer to Teresa Kok (DAP Seputeh), the PM Department said that there are 436,300 “Other Bumiputera” and 143,500 “Other Ethnic Groups” in Sabah. These constituted 25.9 percent of the Sabah population.

The composition of ethnic groups in Sabah as of March 206:

Melayu 342,500 15.3%
Kadazan/Dusun 530,000 23.7%
Bajau 399,300 17.8%
Murut 98,400 4.4%
Bumiputera Lain 436,300 19.5%
Cina 287,200 12.8%
Lain-lain Etnik 143,500 6.4%
Jumlah Warganegara 2,237,100 100.0% (75.1%)
Bukan Warganegara 743,600 (24.9%)
Jumlah 2,980,700 (100.0%)

The question is who are the “Other Bumiputera” and “Other Ethnic Groups” that cannot be classified according to a particular ethnic group. Are these “citizens” non-indigenous to Sabah? - taken from the Blog of Chow Kon Yeow

Some interesting BN governmental responses:-

Mohd Najib Razak - Deputy Prime Minister

He dismissed Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s comment in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday that “there could have been administrative errors at the state NRD but this will be put right. No one will be victimised." - - Malaysiakini, 6/10/2008 - Sapp: 'Loopholes' behind IC scam

Nazri Aziz

A state ruling coalition leader has taken Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz to task for making light of the concerns of Sabahan over the growing menace posed by the large presence of illegal immigrants in the state.

Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp) leader Tham Nyip Shen, who is also state science and technology advisor, said he was 'utterly shocked' that Nazri could have said in Parliament recently “that the presence of foreigners, including those with IMM13 documents, did not cause social, security and economic problems in Sabah.” - Malaysiakini, 8/7/2006 Sabah leader blasts Nazri over immigrant remark

In 2007, the Parliamentary Select Committee tried to look into this but alas the National Registration Department refused to turn up, and...

“It is a serious matter and indicates an unbecoming attitude of an agency when a meeting called by the Parliamentary Select Committee can be rejected.

“This is also disrespectful to Parliament and reflects the standard and quality of administration of this country,” Ramon said in a statement today.

He also called for Dompok’sposition as chairperson of the PSCI to be reinstated and that the NRD be held accountable for the issuance of identity cards in Sabah where there is apparent widespread abuse.

“Tough disciplinary action must be taken against individuals and agencies that do not heed parliamentary meetings seriously,” he added. - Malaysiakini, 19/5/2007 - Kit Siang and groups support Dompok

.... the Chairman of that Parliamentary Select Committee resigned...

Dompok’s decision to resign from the bi-partisan committee followed Lim’s question on why a scheduled committee meeting yesterday with National Registration Department (NRD) into a fake identity card scandal in Sabah dubbed ‘Project M’ was suddenly cancelled.

Test of strength

The NRD has refused to appear before the committee - a move which Nazri has supported. - - Malaysiakini, 19/5/2007 - Kit Siang and groups support Dompok

It is obvious that the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the BN generally have no interest in investigating the "new" citizens of Sabah, and how they suddenly became citizens. Why? Maybe, because the whole situation has benefited UMNO - who certainly is today the dominant BN component party in Sabah, a situation which would not, most likely not be if the ethnic composition remained the same as it was in 1970.

Even in Semenanjung Malaysia, some say that the difference of the ethnic composition in 2008, compared to that in 1957 raises some questions as to whether there were "new" citizens also created here. Different birth rates among the ethnic groups do not explain the difference.

There must be an investigation into this issue of the "new" citizens of Sabah (and maybe even Malaysia) - and the guilty must be exposed and penalized.

With regard the "new" citizens and their now citizen children, that will be a difficult problem to resolve BUT the whole community must come together and find a solution.

Many of these "new" citizens and their children have become Malaysian, have lived and studied in Malaysia - so the solution may not be the stripping of citizenship or the deportation to some other country.

The term "illegal migrant problem" - probable a term that the UMNO led BN government would like to use to confuse the issue especially in Malaysia. Why? Because most Malaysians immediately start thinking about the undocumented migrants in Malaysia who have been around for a couple of years or so... The "new" citizen problem of Sabah is very very different...

Anyway, back to that Malaysiakini report, and the other points raised by Eric Majimbun

Cases in point

Majimbun highlighted some pertinent facts and figures the bureau has collated in recent days:

1) The case of Filipino, Jerom Maguil, who was issued MyKad 5609030-12-5739 (old IC No: H0540992) under the name of Jerom Majimbon and staying in Eric Majimbun’s village in Inanam, Kampung Pomotodon. Inanam is in the outlying regions of greater Kota Kinabalu.

The case file includes a letter that Eric wrote to the Home Ministry secretary-general on Oct 4 last year on the case, with copies to the NRD in Kuala Lumpur and the state NRD; the reply from the Home Ministry in Parliament confirming that Jerom Majimbon a.k.a Jerom Maguil was not entitled to the MyKad he was holding.

The fact remains the MyKad has not been withdrawn, neither has Majimbon been deported. There was no reply to the Oct 4 letter;

2) The history of statements from residents in Kampong Pomotodon bringing the presence of Jerom Majimbon a.k.a. Jerom Maguil to MP Eric Majimbun’s attention;

3) The case file of a Sino-Dusun, Thien Kau Pah B Kian Kim, 60, born and bred in Kampung Melaka, Jalan Kionsom, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu and issued a MyPR and not the MyKad to which he is entitled when he had to change his old blue IC. His appeals were not entertained;

4) The state NRD replacing the MyKad of a senior citizen, Yong Lee Hua @ Piang Lin, 78, a native, with a MyPR (permanent resident status) after she lost her MyKad to a picket pocket on Feb 12 last year at a supermarket in Penampang Baru, an outlying region of Kota Kinabalu, on the grounds that “senior citizens who lose their MyKads are given the MyPR as replacement”;

5) Some cases of passport-holding foreigners from Philippines and Indonesia who have one or two of their children becoming Malaysian citizens although their other children are not citizens;

6) 65,000 Filipino refugees were issued the IMM13 refugee documents in the 1970s, according to the federal government. More recently, the federal government cited the same figures for 2008 raising various questions on the subject: how many have been given citizenship, permanent residence and bumiputera status?

7) The discrepancy in the percentage increase between Kadazan, Dusun, Murut on the one hand and other Bumiputera between 1970 and 2000 i.e. 236 per cent and 631 per cent respectively;

8) The problem of children of inter-marriages being classified as sino-natives and not as natives; and

9) The discrepancies in the population increase between 1970 to 2000 in Sabah, Sarawak and Malaysia: 10,439,430 to 22,202,614 or up by 113 percent in Malaysia; 976,269 to 2,012,616 or up by 106 percent in Sarawak; and 636,431 to 2,449,389 or up by 285 percent in Sabah.

“The situation we are in right now calls for a change (in attitude) in government,” said Majimbun.

“We are already being marginalised in all aspects. What will happen to our future generations? People should not simply say that we are touching on a sensitive issue. We are talking about something that concerns the future of our children and the future generations.”

Majimbun pledged that all information gathered by his bureau would be brought to the attention of the federal and state governments “to let them know and take these matters seriously”.- Malaysiakini, 6/10/2008 - Sapp: 'Loopholes' behind IC scam

Lih Kang and PR Perak does good for Orang Asli rights.

Good job Chang Lih Kang and the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government....This is the kind of things that we all want to hear happening where Pakatan Rakyat rules...

Orang asli score victory in Gopeng - Star Online, 1/8/2008

GOPENG: The orang asli of five settlements here scored a victory after Gopeng Bhd accepted the Perak Government’s offer of an alternative site to start its oil palm plantation.

State Health, Environment and Human Resources Committee chairman A. Sivanesan said the company agreed that the 136.72ha land in question be returned to the state in exchange for a similar site.

In June, it was reported that Gopeng Bhd’s land-clearing work for a road leading to the site had angered the orang asli from the affected settlements of Ulu Kampar, Ulu Geroh, Kampung Serkal, Ulu Geruntum and Kampung Empang Besar.

“The state has already instructed the Forestry and respective departments to look for an alternative site,” Sivanesan told a press conference here yesterday.

“We consider the matter closed and there won’t be any intrusion or infringement on the rights of the orang asli,” he said.

The orang asli’s spokesman, Bah Azmi Ngah Porgi, said he was moved by the latest turn of events after months of fighting to preserve their land.

“I don’t know what to say. I want to thank the Mentri Besar, Teja assemblyman Chang Lih Kang and everyone else for understanding our plight,” he said.