Friday 12 December 2008

Malaysia's Forgotten People

While we are concerned about the marginalized people in our midst - the urban poor, the HIV afflicted, and the estate Indians - we have paid scant attention to other ethnic minorities who have been left out in the cold: the indigenous peoples, the original bumiputeras of the country. Accounting for only 0.6% of the population but 54% of the hardcore poor, they have been deprived of their rights to live as equal citizens of this country.

The coordinator for Centre for Orang Asli Concerns, Colin Nicholas has this to say in Nut Graph about what the government has been doing:

Below are photos of a ethnic minority, known as the Batek or people of the forest who reside in the pristine jungles of Pahang. These photos, taken by Lye Tuck-Po documented their way of life. Would they want to exchange their way of life for ours, I wonder.



Click on button 'Docs' to view larger pictures.
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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous19 December 2008 at 09:59

    I just got back from Taiwan, I must say they treat the ethnic minorities there with respect as compared to us here in Malaysia. Among the 107 TV channels in Taiwan, channel 16 is dedicated to the indigenous tribes there showcasing their culture and lifestyle to the entire of Taiwan folks.

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  2. CNLEE19 December 2008 at 10:36

    The Malaysian government just wants to convert them to Muslims; otherwise whatever it has done is merely window dressing.
    I was unable to congratulate you on tying the matrimonial knot; may u live in perpetual marital bliss. congratulations!

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