Issues in OA community or factors hindering them from accessing their rights are as follow:*
- Lack of awareness about the importance of education to ensure that they are aware of their rights and could adapt well to society around them;
- They are exposed to the lack of registration, for example, the birth of a baby or death of a family member is not registered. OA bury their dead family members in their orchard and it would serve as the landmark that the orchard belongs to them. They do not understand the land law system where a land should be registered and receiving a grant from their state government;
- They are too dependent on the Orang Asli Department (JAKOA);
- The school is far from their village and the OA children could not adapt to the children outside of their village;
- They do not know how to trade forest resources they have collected and ended up being cheated by middlemen;
- They have a basic understanding of life where it revolves only around having food and living a simple life which is not really a problem for me;
- The tribal mentality where they are not united to achieve a common goal. I think I would need an example for this because I have heard Mazni mentioned about an OA organisation runned by OA who only served the interest of their community but refused to be engaged when it comes to other OA communities.
View and Suggestion
- I believe that everything begins with the level of mentality. OA just like other communities around the world need some space to establish themselves. Their interests need motivation;
- There must be a continuous effort where government agencies, non-governmental organisations and civil society should work together in creating awareness among the OA;
- I think their languages should be documented and they should be given the chance to at least study their mother tongue or studying in their mother tongue until they reach the first secondary level. However, I cannot find any national bodies nor non-governmental organisation doing anything about this. The only OA language taught in certain OA school if I am not mistaken is the Semai language which is not common to the OA in other states. Perhaps state educational department could initiate something or a project for their language and culture by working together with NGOs and the communities themselves;
- OA could be enlightened by using their own languages because this is what I have read and experienced myself. An example that I could think of now perhaps, the translation of Bible into vernacular languages used in Germany by figures such as John Calvin or Martin Luther during the Reformation period in Europe;
- It is important to generate creative ideas on how to gradually bring OA children to schools and study rather than criticising them because they would not understand those criticisms, be they constructive or destructive, forever;
- It is important for those who engage with the OA communities to study their differences and common features. It includes their languages, their culture, beliefs and customs, worldview and way of life.
Overall, a human rights defender working in this field should look at
these communities with empathy and patience. He should think in their
shoes and not thinking according to his own way or impose his views on
them because they do not understand it. They see things differently to
outsiders. Changes should come with a gradual development in mentality.
We cannot expect a rapid change or a reaction to our works in only 'a
day'. It is an ongoing process and of course, with goals according to
timeline and levels of impact. Try to think by using reasons and logic.
* Extracted from the briefing of Mazni.
