GUA MUSANG, July 22 — Ninety per cent of the Orang Asli community has agreed and provided positive feedback during engagement sessions regarding proposed constitutional amendments on community land ownership, which is set to be tabled in Parliament in 2027.
Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor said on a national scale, 219,000 Orang Asli had expressed their support for the amendments.
He said the majority of Orang Asli reside in dispersed locations across Kelantan, Kedah, Perak, Selangor, the Federal Territories, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Terengganu.
“It can be said that 90 per cent of them agree in principle, which is a significant proportion,” he told reporters at the Kelantan and Terengganu Perdana Batin and Orang Asli Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKOA) and Orang Asli chiefs gathering in Kuala Betis here today.
Ramli said similar engagement sessions have been held in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Perak, Johor and Kedah.
“Land matters fall under state jurisdiction. Therefore, this initiative will facilitate the claims of the Orang Asli community as it involves their customary land.
“Once all engagement sessions are complete, the matter will be presented to the Bar Council, then to the Cabinet, which will forward it to the Attorney-General for review, and subsequently to the Conference of Rulers,” he said.
Ramli said the briefings aim to enhance understanding, and he called on Orang Asli chiefs and JPKKOA to support the government’s efforts to develop rural areas and guide the Orang Asli community to improve their standard of living.
— Bernama
