PUTRAJAYA, August 11, 2016: A Land Rights Memorandum
outlining issues and demands related to Orang Asal lands, territories and
resources has been handed over to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low's office by Jaringan Orang Asal
SeMalaysia (JOAS) two days ago.
JOAS members say the federal government has kept quiet on Suhakam report submitted in 2013
The memorandum called on the government to be transparent
with the progress of the Cabinet Committee on the Land Rights of Indigenous
Peoples.
The memorandum was drafted after consulting with the
Orang Asal across Malaysia when they met over the last four days to commemorate
the International Day of Indigenous Peoples Celebration which falls on August 9
every year.
Key points of the memorandum referred to the SUHAKAM
National Inquiry on Land Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The report which came
out in 2013 has been endorsed fully by JOAS.
“As a result of the government Task Force to review the
findings of the SUHAKAM report was the formation of a Cabinet Committee on 13
June 2015,” explains Secretary General of JOAS Jannie Lasimbang.
“But we question the sincerity of the government because
we received no further news on the Cabinet Committee and the report of the Task
Force has not been released officially,” she adds.
Former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin then was appointed as head of the Cabinet
Committee.
“We have handed the Memorandum to Low as the Minister's office has said that it
remained committed and will play a key role in the Cabinet Committee” she
added.
JOAS secretary general Jannie Lasimbang speaking to the press after handing over the memorandum to Datuk Paul Low (picture,right)
The memorandum resonates with the Global Call on Action
for #LandRightsNow, a campaign which puts land rights at the centre of
sustainable development and climate change. The campaign, supported by over 500 organizations around
the world including JOAS, was launched on August 9.
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