The Indigenous people, also known as Orang Asli, are considered to be the most vulnerable people worldwide; This is no exception in Malaysia. As an intern at Global Peace Foundation, I have witnessed parts of Malaysia where the Orang Asli live with little to no access to basic necessities such as clean water, electricity, education…
The crisis of Covid-19, compounded by diminishing forest resources, has exposed many of the dire realities faced by the Orang Asli community. During the Movement Control Order (MCO), many Orang Asli ran out of food supply and had to rely on temporary food aids due to loss of income. This lack of access to adequate…
Each year, waterborne diseases afflict hundreds of millions of people, primarily those living without safe, accessible water. Despite making great strides in the past 20 years to end waterborne diseases, there is still much to be done. Over the years of working with the Orang Asli (OA) community, we found numerous OA villages in the…
With my internship at Global Peace Foundation being my first official work experience in the non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector, I came in wanting to learn more about the process and planning behind the project implementation of an NGO. Fortunately for me, I leave Global Peace Foundation gaining so much more than just that. I was…
THE Covid-19 pandemic and movement restrictions have brought a fortunate turn for some Orang Asli in Muadzam Shah, Pahang, who began growing their own food and are now enjoying the benefits of extra income and improved diets. Tapioca and rice had been the daily staple in the early days of the movement-control order…
Education is a basic right for all children and a critical key to poverty alleviation. Throughout the years of working with the Orang Asli community, we found many Orang Asli children with low literacy skills and high school dropout rates. Many more children have also never attended school at all. There are numerous reasons that…
WHILE Covid-19 shut down most of the economy, especially during the movement-control order, Orang Asli tribes in villages close to Maudzam Shah in Pahang managed to weather the impact by grabbing job opportunities in jungles and plantations. The Malaysian Insight visited four Orang Asli kampung in the Muadzam Shah district and found the villagers in…
On our first trip back to the Orang Asli villages in Pahang since the Movement Control Order, we stopped by Kampung Jenit to check in on the villagers. Sitting cross-legged on the small patio outside Pak Cik Jelita’s house, we learned of Sakura’s struggles with raising her 8 year old son. Occasionally boasting a smile…