TOPIC 7ACTION 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

Urban Communities

Dependent to the nature that they living in

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 childs 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

 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.