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The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People falls on 9 August each year, and its global theme for 2011 was “Indigenous Designs: Celebrating Stories and Culture, Crafting Our Own Future”.  To commemorate the occasion this year, the Bar Council Committee on Orang Asli Rights (“COAR”) organised a “celebration dinner” at 5:00 pm, at the Bar Council Auditorium, on 13 Aug 2011 (Saturday).  The event was attended by over 205 Orang Asli from Johore, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak and Selangor, in addition to 30 Members of the Malaysian Bar, members of COAR and the Bar Council Human Rights Committee (“BCHRC”), invited guests and members of the press.  

The event, led by master of ceremonies and COAR member Siti Zabedah Kasim, started off with welcome speeches from Lim Chee Wee, President of the Malaysian Bar; Steven Thiru, Co-Chairperson of COAR and Treasurer of the Malaysian Bar; and Shafie b Dris, an Orang Asli representative from Pahang.  The speeches were followed by the screening of a 30-minute documentary entitled Hak Dinafikan.  The insightful documentary shed light on the plight of various Orang Asli groups: their connection to their tanah adat or native customary land, and how it was taken away by the government without prior consultation with them.

The evening was also graced by several performances by the Orang Asli groups present.  The first performance was by Kaum Temiar from Kelantan, and guests were delighted with their vibrant costumes and musical instruments.  Shortly after the performance, guests were served with a lovely Buka Puasa buffet dinner spread at 7:30 pm.

The night proceeded with speeches by two speakers: Dr Selva Vathany K Pillai, a medical doctor and health and human rights social activist; and Sokyen Man, founder and President of Jaringan Perpaduan Orang Asli (“JPOA”).  The speakers shared the experiences of their brave battle against Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (“JHEOA”), which had failed to provide adequate medical aid to Orang Asli villagers whose health was under its care.  Dr Selva Vathany K Pillai’s daring confrontation with JHEOA and constant plea to Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (“KKM”) to take over Gombak Hospital was supported by Bar Council, led by Ambiga Sreenevasan, Co-Chairperson of COAR and former President of the Malaysian Bar.  Dr Selva Vathany K Pillai also revealed that from early 2012, the administration of Gombak Hospital will be taken over by KKM – a piece of news that was well-received by all those present.

The rest of the evening saw more dance and musical performances by Kaum Jahut, from Maran Padang, Pahang and Kaum Temuan from Negeri Sembilan, followed by a closing speech by Colin Nicholas, Coordinator of the Centre for Orang Asli Concerns, a non-governmental organisation.  The event, which ended at approximately 10:30 pm, was a truly joyous occasion that showcased the vibrant and colourful culture of Orang Asli.