Amendment To Act 134: Minister To Gain Authority To Appoint Council Members

KUALA LUMPUR,  Dec 10 (Bernama) -- The amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134), currently being drafted by the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), is expected to give the Minister the power to appoint council members with specific knowledge and expertise in Orang Asli affairs.

Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Rubiah Wang, said this aligns with the proposal to establish the Orang Asli Consultative Council for Peninsular Malaysia, which will be based on the New Zealand Maori Council (NZMC) model.

“Through the establishment of this Council, the government hopes to strengthen the voice and aspirations of the Orang Asli through a more robust legal framework.

“This is in line with the self-determination principle outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which Malaysia has supported since 2007,” she added when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2026 in the Senate today.

Rubiah said the council will be based on the NZMC model, which has successfully promoted the social, economic, educational, and cultural development of the Maori people.

She said to ensure Orang Asli views are considered in the amendments, including provisions related to land, the ministry has gathered feedback from 1,336 respondents, including various stakeholders and the Orang Asli community.

“The ministry has also held engagement sessions, workshops, and town halls to ensure that Orang Asli, as key stakeholders, have their views included in a comprehensive and inclusive way.

“The proposed amendments have also been presented at the Meeting of Chief Ministers and Menteri Besar (MBKM) and the National Land Council (MTN), and are expected to be tabled in Parliament in 2026,” she said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Human Resources, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad, in winding up his debate said the ministry is committed to developing the talents of huffaz (those who have memorised the Quran) by offering initiatives to ensure they have access to relevant skills training.

“The development of huffaz talents is not only carried out through institutions under the ministry, such as the Advanced Technology College (ADTEC JTM) in Selandar, but also through other training institutions across ministries,” he said.

Under the governance of the National Skills Development Council (MPKK), KESUMA has set up a subcommittee (JKK) for TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) in Tahfiz to ensure inclusive skill development for tahfiz institutions and religious schools.

-- BERNAMA