In a statement, Parti Orang Asli Malaysia (Asli) said the federal government already had sufficient powers to resolve Orang Asli issues, especially matters pertaining to land ownership.

The federal and state governments should instead pay more serious attention to recognising and protecting land belonging to the Orang Asli and its economic resources, via the Orang Asli development department (Jakoa), it said.

“And Jakoa should be empowered beyond organisational restructuring, and allocated sufficient funds. The welfare of its staff should also be improved.”

Asli, however, called for relevant laws, including the Wildlife Conservation Act and the National Forestry Act to be amended to make them more Orang Asli-friendly.

“In some states, the Orang Asli’s economy and source of income are affected by the enforcement of less-than-friendly laws,” it said, adding that the surge in the price of goods and services had also impacted the community.

Ramli Nor, the country’s sole Orang Asli MP, had proposed amending the constitution to include Orang Asli matters under the Concurrent List, particularly to address land ownership issues.

He said many issues that affected the community were linked to land ownership disputes, adding that land matters were currently under the jurisdiction of the various states.

The Concurrent List contains matters where the legislative authority is shared between the federal and state governments.

The Malaysian Bar had earlier rejected the proposal, saying it would not add much value to the supreme law of the land.

Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab had said the existing state and federal constitutional arrangements did not cause a legal impasse for the protection and recognition of Orang Asli land and resources in the peninsula.

Ezri also said moving Orang Asli matters to the Concurrent List could lead to confusion, disputes and even delays in the administration of such matters.