203
health, education and well-being issues. They still depend on forest products and
traditional activities that bring very little income. According to Kamarudin et al.
(2015), most of the Orang Asli are still living in extreme poverty because of their
subsistence economic activity. They normally collect rattan and resin to sell to outsiders, besides hunting wild animals for food, such as porcupines, fowl, birds, deer
and others (JAKOA 2011; Omar 2004; Ali 1999; Ishak 1998; William Hunt 1998).
According to Emby et al. (1996), the Orang Asli are unable to earn a good living
from traditional activities because of unstable economic situation and exploitation
by middlemen.
Since independence, the government, through its various Malaysia Plans, has
been implementing holistic development programmes. The programmes have created a huge impact on societies in the country, including the Orang Asli. According
to the report by then Rural and Regional Development Ministry (2013), the government was aware that the Orang Asli are the poorest community in the country. As
early as 1978, it has initiated comprehensive socio-economic development programmes to uplift their social well-being that included providing basic infrastructure like clean water supply, electricity, houses, primary schools, clinics and jobs,
among others. Those actions eventually resulted in the transformation of the Orang
Asli’s lifestyle in the country (JAKOA 2011).
The Rural Development Ministry and JAKOA have worked hard to eradicate
poverty among the Orang Asli. There are many socio-economic development programmes in Malaysia that specifically tried to empower the Orang Asli. In the first
phase of the transformation plan (1957 to first quarter of 1994), the government had
enhanced their socio-economic growth and equity through the New Economic
Policy (NEP). In the early years, when the nation was facing the communist threat,
the government had tried to prevent them from being influenced by the insurgents’
ideology by nurturing integration, educational opportunities, in situ resettlement
programmes and new agricultural activities, besides provision of basic facilities and
healthcare.
In the second phase (second quarter of 1994–2020), the National Development
Policy emphasised a balanced growth that covered commercial land development,
smart communities, development of education and technical skills, entrepreneurship guidance and empowering the quality of services and public amenities. In addition, within that period, the government also implemented the National Vision
Policy, which emphasised on sustainable developments that included human and
community programmes, poverty eradication, action plans for Orang Asli education, delegation of power, access to information and communication technology,
eco-tourism and land ownership. Through this framework, the government strongly
believes that the socio-economic status of the Orang Asli will change for the better.
Currently, the lifestyle of the Orang Asli community has evolved because of
influence from surrounding developments. The Orang Asli are no longer fully
dependent on forest products and traditional subsistence economic activities
(JAKOA 2011). Some of them have migrated out of their villages to look for better
jobs in cities. They are involved in business, manufacturing, agricultural and
Socio-economic Development and Sustainable Livelihood of the Orang Asli
health, education and well-being issues. They still depend on forest products and
traditional activities that bring very little income. According to Kamarudin et al.
(2015), most of the Orang Asli are still living in extreme poverty because of their
subsistence economic activity. They normally collect rattan and resin to sell to outsiders, besides hunting wild animals for food, such as porcupines, fowl, birds, deer
and others (JAKOA 2011; Omar 2004; Ali 1999; Ishak 1998; William Hunt 1998).
According to Emby et al. (1996), the Orang Asli are unable to earn a good living
from traditional activities because of unstable economic situation and exploitation
by middlemen.
Since independence, the government, through its various Malaysia Plans, has
been implementing holistic development programmes. The programmes have created a huge impact on societies in the country, including the Orang Asli. According
to the report by then Rural and Regional Development Ministry (2013), the government was aware that the Orang Asli are the poorest community in the country. As
early as 1978, it has initiated comprehensive socio-economic development programmes to uplift their social well-being that included providing basic infrastructure like clean water supply, electricity, houses, primary schools, clinics and jobs,
among others. Those actions eventually resulted in the transformation of the Orang
Asli’s lifestyle in the country (JAKOA 2011).
The Rural Development Ministry and JAKOA have worked hard to eradicate
poverty among the Orang Asli. There are many socio-economic development programmes in Malaysia that specifically tried to empower the Orang Asli. In the first
phase of the transformation plan (1957 to first quarter of 1994), the government had
enhanced their socio-economic growth and equity through the New Economic
Policy (NEP). In the early years, when the nation was facing the communist threat,
the government had tried to prevent them from being influenced by the insurgents’
ideology by nurturing integration, educational opportunities, in situ resettlement
programmes and new agricultural activities, besides provision of basic facilities and
healthcare.
In the second phase (second quarter of 1994–2020), the National Development
Policy emphasised a balanced growth that covered commercial land development,
smart communities, development of education and technical skills, entrepreneurship guidance and empowering the quality of services and public amenities. In addition, within that period, the government also implemented the National Vision
Policy, which emphasised on sustainable developments that included human and
community programmes, poverty eradication, action plans for Orang Asli education, delegation of power, access to information and communication technology,
eco-tourism and land ownership. Through this framework, the government strongly
believes that the socio-economic status of the Orang Asli will change for the better.
Currently, the lifestyle of the Orang Asli community has evolved because of
influence from surrounding developments. The Orang Asli are no longer fully
dependent on forest products and traditional subsistence economic activities
(JAKOA 2011). Some of them have migrated out of their villages to look for better
jobs in cities. They are involved in business, manufacturing, agricultural and
Socio-economic Development and Sustainable Livelihood of the Orang Asli