KUALA LUMPUR: A consultant has to be appointed to carry out tasks related to amending the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Rural and Regional Development Minister said this was because there were no experts on legal issues at the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa).
“The government is in the midst of appointing a consultant.
“The appointment will be done transparently and aims to ensure amendments to the Act will be holistic, comprehensive and appropriate to the various challenges and changes that occur,” he said in a written parliamentary reply to Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (PN-Gua Musang) on Tuesday (June 13).
Mohd Azizi had asked about the progress of studies towards amending the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954.
Last year, The Star reported that Orang Asli groups and members of the community wanted the government to push ahead with revisions to the Aboriginal Peoples Act immediately and not wait for a study on the amendments to the Act to be carried out.
This came after then minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said Jakoa was expected to begin a study on amendments to the existing Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 last year to provide better protection for the community.
Mahdzir said the study, which was expected to be completed in 2025, needed to be done to ensure there were appropriate sections in the Act to address current issues.
The Act has not been amended since it was first passed in 1974, except for a minor revision.
