TOPIC 7-ACTION PLAN TO CREATE

CULTURALLY-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT

Ahmad Puad

Nur Nabilah Dianah

OUTLINE

• Definition

• The differences between rural and urban communities in Malaysia

• The extent of the government's efforts to enhance the quality of living among of the indigenous communities of Malaysia

• The programme that have been implemented by the government to enhance quality education among the rural communities

DEFINITION

Orang asli- The indigenous minority people of peninsular malaysia.

Indigenous people- People that belonging to a particular place rather than coming to it from somewhere else

People living in the interior areas- People that living in a place that have the lowest reachability rate

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES

IN MALAYSIA

Rural Communities• Living in the traditional way

• Consist of a specific ethnic in the area

• Acknowledge and practice the same traditions and customs

• Dependent to the nature that they living in

Urban Communities

• Living the modern way

• Consist of different ethnics living in the area

• Practicing different traditions and customs

• Work to support living

Through their arts and crafts, the child learns that with creativity and effort, unlimited utility can be gained.

Through their songs and rituals, the child is reminded of the other world.

Through its legends and folklore, pride and identity are instilled in being a member of the community.

There is no fixed curriculum or syllabus, nor timetable for learning. Learning is treated merely as a process to be a good orang asli; not to compete in the award of a certificate.

The village is the schoolhouse, and the teachers are the child‟s parents, siblings, uncles, aunties, grandparents, cousins, and neighbours. From the elders, the orang asli child learns about the riches of the environment and how it will forever protect them as long they reciprocate the relationship.

The child itself is encouraged to use the forest as its playground.

• Kedah Regional Development Authority (KEDA) -Also known as the Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Kedah in Malay term. Established on May 28, 1981 under the Parliament Act 249 (Kedah Regional Development Authority Act 1981).

• Lembaga Kemajuan Johor Tenggara (KEJORA) - Also known as the Development Authority of Johor Tenggara in English term.

• Lembaga Kemajuan Kelantan Selatan (KESEDAR) -Also known as the Development Authority of Kelantan Selatan in English term.

• Lembaga Kemajuan Terengganu Tengah (KETENGAH) -Also known as the Development Authority of Terengganu Tengah in English term.

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Today, there are 869 Orang Asli villages throughout the country, 2% are located at the vicinity of existing townships and 61% in the outskirt of existing rural villages and 37% are in the remote areas (Mason & Arifin, 2005).

• village resettlement programmes, rural roads, provision of electricity and water supply, social amenities, as well as access to education (Khor, 2001).

• In the 9th Malaysian Plan (RMK9), the Government is committed in improving the quality of life of Orang Asli.

• The government has allocated RM170 million to the JHEOA to carry out numerous programmes and projects.

• A sum of RM50 million is provided for Housing Assistance Programme and social amenities in Orang Asli settlements (The Economic Planning Unit, 2006).

• The Rancangan Pengumpulan Semula (The Resettlement Scheme or RPS) has been designed for remote and scattered settlement of the Orang Asli community- Equipped with housing, kindergarten, community halls, electricity, water supply and access roads.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• Rubber Industry Small Holders Development Authority (RISDA)- one of the federal statutory bodies under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development. Established on January 1, 1973 under the RISDA Rubber Industry Smallholders' Development Authority Act 1972 and Rubber Industry (Replanting) Fund Ordinance 1952. The mission of RISDA is to create a progressive and prosperous smallholder community through agricultural and commercial activities.

• FELCRA Berhad (FB) Established in 1966. FELCRA Berhad plays a key role in the development of rural smallholder lands into productive plantations as a means to uplift the socio-economic status of the rural population.

• FELCRA now expand their corporate business in investment and real estate.

• A 5-star hotel will be develop in Langkawi, which costs rm300 mil.

• 3.0777 hectare of land will be develop for new city in Malacca (Jasin) that value RM4 -RM5 billion

• the “homestay” programme by The Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia

• Generally, the homestay development policy in Malaysia emphasises the utilisation of available resources of the kampung, the conservation and maintenance of socio-cultural and artistic customs of the village and also highlights the uniqueness of the Malaysian village life.

• provides a supplementary source of income to its hosts and inexpensive alternative accommodation to tourists.

• It is carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, respective state governments and the Association of Homestay Malaysia.

SKILLS TRAINING

• It is a new meaning in the life of Orang Asli when government agencies such as KEMAS, MOE and Department of Social Welfare incorperated with JHEOA to give community educational support and facilities. The MOE has allocated RM13 million to implement Adult Education Programme for indigenous community in Malaysia.

• Jabatan Kemajuan Masyarakat (KEMAS) - Also known as the Community Development Department in English term.

RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT

• Malaysia is a multicultural and multiconfessional country.

• The implication of providing education for this community has drawn the attention of various non-governmental Agencies (NGOs) and voluntary bodies such as Islamic Youth Movement (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia or ABIM), Interfaith Religious Commission (IRC), Tabligh and Malaysian Christian Association for Relief (Malaysian CARE).

• For example:

If the community that they live in comprises mainly with people who practices a certain religion, they would tend to practice that religion also.

• Even if they do not practice the same religion, they will learn to compromise and respect the majority.

LITERACY EDUCATION

“no Orang Asli child shall be precluded from attending any school only by reason of being an Orang Asli.” It also states that “no Orang Asli child attending any school shall be obliged to attend any religious instruction without the prior consent of his parents or guardian.” (The Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954; Act 134, Article 17)

• The ‘orang asli’ is a minority group in Malaysia.

• Eventhough they are a minority group, they were not be left out of national educational development.

This implementation is carried out in stages:

• First Stage: Pre-School: Children from 5 to 6 years

• The students are being provided with a solid foundation before they attend formal education.

• The Orang Asli children are prepared and trained in terms of emotional and social skills to be ready to face changes and challenges that they will face when they attend school.

• Second Stage: Children from 7 to 12 years

• Orang Asli children are provided with a solid foundation in basic literacy and textbooks etc.

• They are also exposed to basic skill such as thinking skills, basic concepts of science, art, recreation.

• In addition, they are instilled with good values for the development of the cognitive, affective domains in line with the National Philosophy of Education.

• Third stage: Pupils from 13-18 years

• This stage comprise of a comprehensive educational programme where emphasis is placed on critical and creative thinking and the main focus is the acceptance of various aspects of knowledge.

• Tertiary level: Education After Secondary Education

• This stage will mainly to develop the cognitive domain where -introduced to creative and critical thinking skills (CCTS) in order to produce innovative students.

• This is in the hope that Orang Asli students can be developed to be able to compete globally.

• because of poor accessibility due to distance and remoteness which causes difficulty for children to attend school punctually and regularly

• However, there are plans which have been approved to uplift the standard of education and to decrease the dropout rate among the Orang Asli,

• RM4.8 million Stay-in-school project announced in 2000.

• Some schools are equipped with hostels for students.

• Skills training appropriate to their interests and abilities will be introduced so that they can enter the labour market and get the job that suit with their abilities.

LITERACY PROGRAMME FOR ADULTS

• MOE has open 102 classes which benefited the adults. The timetable for the was arrange 3 days a week from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. suitable for Orang Asli parents.

• Amran (2008) reported that the education for adults has drawn the attention of KEMAS -open 74 classes under the Education for the Wellbeing Family Program (Kelas Pendidikan Kesejahteraan Keluarga or PKK) and Literacy Education Programme (Pendidikan Literasi Fungsian or PLF).

• Both programmes have benefited 1,274 Orang Asli adults.

REFERENCES

Ministry of Education (2006). Education in Malaysia: To

develop excellence the National Education. Putrajaya:

Educational Planning and Research Division.

Nicholas, C. (2005) Integration and Modernization of the

Orang Asli:The impact on culture and identity,

Department of Museums & Antiquities and the

Department of Orang Asli Affairs, Kuala Lumpur.

The Economic Planning Unit (2006). The Ninth Malaysian

Plan 2006 - 2010, Putrajaya: Department of Prime

Minister.

William-Hunt, T. & Mohd Nor, H. (1993). The Orang Asli

of Malaysia in the Wider National Order: Forging New

and Dynamic Relationships, Centre for Malaysian

Pribumi Studies and the Department of Orang Asli

Affairs. Kuala Lumpur.