HISTORY, POLITICS, DEVELOPMENT AND CONTEXT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN MALAYSIA

The relationship between conservation efforts and the Orang Asal, the Indigenous peoples of Malaysia, is complex and often contradictory. It is argued that while Orang Asli communities have been major contributors to conservation success and the success of individual conservationists – providing indispensable labour, local knowledge, and research assistance – they have simultaneously experienced increased socio-economic fragility and insecurity.

How the Orang Asli were perceived within the dynamics of conservation management and practice has fluctuated over the past quarter-century, a volatility underpinned by the only constant: an often-exploitative relationship dictated by ‘who is needing who’.

The Orang Asal’s story has always been one of marginalization, resilience, and an unceasing struggle for recognition, land, and rights. Now, a reorientation towards Indigenous perspectives – driven by funding priorities, new knowledge, and relentless Orang Asal activism – is leading to greater recognition, credit, and participation being accorded to their involvement in conservation.

Ultimately, it is contended that meaningful progress of Orang Asal involvement in conservation will require a fundamental shift: centering Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and the recognition of Indigenous self-determination as the foundational principles for a just and equitable conservation paradigm.

VIDEO RECORD