Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said key elements New Zealand had in place which Malaysia could adapt included land ownership rights, better access to education, and financing agencies dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship within the indigenous community.

“Act 134 is 71 years old and many aspects need to be re-examined,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama in Wellington, New Zealand, today.

Zahid, who is on a work trip there until Friday, added that New Zealand’s model could not be emulated as a whole but would need to be adapted according to the needs and realities faced by the Orang Asli.

He said amendments to the law were still being drafted while stakeholder engagement was ongoing, involving Orang Asli academics, professionals and village leaders, among others.

Zahid, the rural and regional development minister, said the Orang Asli development department (Jakoa) had been ordered to restructure its community development ecosystem to go beyond basic needs.

“The aim of the amendment is not to deny their rights, but to strengthen protection for the Orang Asli community,” he said, adding that close cooperation was needed with the various state governments since land ownership matters fall under their jurisdiction.

Zahid added that there were more than 225,000 Orang Asli recorded in West Malaysia.

He expects the proposed amendments to Act 134 to be tabled in Parliament in March next year.