Is a Constitutional Amendment the Solution to Orang Asli Land Issues?

Recently, Cameron Highlands MP and the Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Dato' Dr. Ramli bin Dato' Mohd Nor, proposed to place Orang Asli matters under the Federal Constitution’s Concurrent List, which would give both federal and state governments legislative authority over these issues. The Malaysian Bar had some concerns about this, arguing that the federal government already has sufficient powers to address Orang Asli concerns, particularly land ownership, and that moving these matters to the Concurrent List could lead to confusion, disputes, and administrative delays. To better understand these issues, we speak to Seira Sacha Abu Bakar, the Chairperson of the Bar Council Committee on Orang Asli Rights, who will also share the challenges Orang Asli communities have faced in securing their land rights, and how development projects, such as logging, plantations, or infrastructure have impacted Orang Asli land.