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© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature
Switzerland AG 2021
M. T. Abdullah et al. (eds.), Resource Use and Sustainability of Orang Asli,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64961-6_1
A Journey of Incremental Steps
for the Orang Asli
Albert Abee
Abstract The human quest for sustainable development impacts public health and
social welfare as well as the endurance of plant and animal species that humans
share space with. Environmental policies designed to mitigate the negative impacts
of developmental activities on the environment, more often than not emerge from
critical needs rather than foresight. This paper characterizes the context of environmental law in play during implementation of the first and second Malaysian development plans (1966–1975). The paper characterizes the approach used to convert
mature forest landscapes into productive palm oil and rubber tree plantations. The
paper reflects incremental policy changes made to mitigate the negative impacts of
development on the Orang Asli environment.
Keywords Orang Asli · Sustainability · Development · Ecosystem · Conservation
· Human health · Ecology
Purpose The year was 2017, and with reference to the Orang Asli, I had been
invited to share my perspective and experience in Malaysia from 1973 to 1976.
Historical context is important to gain perspective of the content of my remarks.
Understanding the dependence of Orang Asli on the health of forest systems they
occupy is key. Similarly, country knowledge of ecosystem functions and mitigation
options for reducing negative effects of economic development on social health and
values were at a different place than they are today. My reflections are a highaltitude snapshot of the implementation of the Second Malaysia Plan (1971–1975)
in Pahang state, Peninsula Malaysia, which most affected the Orang Asli lifestyle. I
noted the unwanted environmental consequences of development affecting Orang
A. Abee (*)
National Coordinator Sustainable Development, United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Services, Washington, DC, USA
e-mail: aabee@msn.com
“There is Nothing New Under the Sun: What Has Been Will Be and What Will Be Has Been”
King Solomon, 450-180 BCE
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature
Switzerland AG 2021
M. T. Abdullah et al. (eds.), Resource Use and Sustainability of Orang Asli,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64961-6_1
A Journey of Incremental Steps
for the Orang Asli
Albert Abee
Abstract The human quest for sustainable development impacts public health and
social welfare as well as the endurance of plant and animal species that humans
share space with. Environmental policies designed to mitigate the negative impacts
of developmental activities on the environment, more often than not emerge from
critical needs rather than foresight. This paper characterizes the context of environmental law in play during implementation of the first and second Malaysian development plans (1966–1975). The paper characterizes the approach used to convert
mature forest landscapes into productive palm oil and rubber tree plantations. The
paper reflects incremental policy changes made to mitigate the negative impacts of
development on the Orang Asli environment.
Keywords Orang Asli · Sustainability · Development · Ecosystem · Conservation
· Human health · Ecology
Purpose The year was 2017, and with reference to the Orang Asli, I had been
invited to share my perspective and experience in Malaysia from 1973 to 1976.
Historical context is important to gain perspective of the content of my remarks.
Understanding the dependence of Orang Asli on the health of forest systems they
occupy is key. Similarly, country knowledge of ecosystem functions and mitigation
options for reducing negative effects of economic development on social health and
values were at a different place than they are today. My reflections are a highaltitude snapshot of the implementation of the Second Malaysia Plan (1971–1975)
in Pahang state, Peninsula Malaysia, which most affected the Orang Asli lifestyle. I
noted the unwanted environmental consequences of development affecting Orang
A. Abee (*)
National Coordinator Sustainable Development, United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Services, Washington, DC, USA
e-mail: aabee@msn.com
“There is Nothing New Under the Sun: What Has Been Will Be and What Will Be Has Been”
King Solomon, 450-180 BCE