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Date: 26 July 2002
MIRI: A plan is being
initiated to bring together Malaysia’s three main native communities and link
them to indigenous groups overseas through the offices of the United
Nations.
The objective is to give the
communities a voice in decision-making involving policies and development
projects that affect their living conditions and their rights.
The communities are the Orang
Asli in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah’s KadazanDusun and the Dayaks of
Sarawak.
About 24 representatives of
the various indigenous groups gathered here two days ago for a dialogue and a
training course on international indigenous human rights and policies.
It was then that the idea to
form a united body was brought up.
Borneo Resources Institute
Malaysia (BRIMAS) co-ordinator Raymond Abin told The Star that it was
time the various groups in the country unite into a big grouping to give them a
common voice to help shape policies and decisions affecting them.
“In Sarawak, there are about
one million indigenous people. There are about one million in Sabah and 800,000
Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia.
“If they can come together
and form a united front, they will be more formidable and in a solid position
to fight for their rights, protect their land and freedom.
“Indigenous people all over
the world are today confronted with enormous legal and socio-economic
challenges and barriers,’’ he said.