Orang Asli Land, Settlement Issues Key Topics Discussed At MaPOA Special Meeting

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said that land and settlement issues involving the Orang Asli community were among the key topics discussed during today’s Special Meeting of the Orang Asli Consultative Council (MaPOA).

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the meeting marked a crucial step in laying a strong foundation for amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134), which has not seen any substantive changes in over 70 years.

“Ensuring access to quality education, basic infrastructure that supports daily life, and broader economic opportunities are goals that the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) and the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) will continue to champion.

“The amendment of Act 134 is a chance for us to rewrite the development narrative for the Orang Asli community to ensure they remain resilient, competitive, and capable of achieving greater success in the future,” he said in a statement.

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid chaired the Special Meeting of MaPOA at the Parliament House, which was also attended by Deputy Minister KKDW and relevant stakeholders.

The deputy prime minister said that the government is committed to ensuring the amendments not only strengthen the legal protection of Orang Asli rights but also bring meaningful transformation to their lives.

In fact, he said the meeting also served as a vital engagement session ahead of discussions on Orang Asli land issues at the National Land Council (MTN), which will be chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I believe land rights are not merely about physical ownership. They represent dignity, the continuity of heritage, and a key to the socioeconomic advancement of this community.

“Although land administration falls under state jurisdiction, close cooperation between the federal and state governments is essential to ensure that any proposed amendments take into account the interests of all parties and remain aligned with existing policies and state authority,” he remarked.

Ahmad Zahid added that more than 1,000 engagement sessions have been conducted to date, involving key stakeholders such as Tok Batin (Orang Asli village heads), state governments, academics, and non-governmental organisations.

-- BERNAMA