KUALA LUMPUR, Sat - Today marks the first anniversary of the Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in
2007. What happened today, ironically, left us with very little wonder why the
orang asal in this country have to continue to fight for their rights to exist.
In conjunction with the anniversary, Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (“JAOS”) has
organised exhibitions and workshops from 10 to 14 September 2008 at The Annexe,
Central Market to increase awareness on the plight of the indigenous peoples in
this country. The height of the 4-day event is the ‘walk’ from Central Market to
the Palace to present a memorandum on indigenous peoples’ rights to the King.
The organisers and representatives from various orang asal communities gathered
at The Annexe, Central Market as early as 9.30 a.m. in anticipation of the walk.
Everyone was in high spirits as participants put on their traditional costumes
and carried musical instruments. As they were getting ready to begin the walk,
the participants sang the common orang asal song.
Some were seen carrying placards with words such as ‘Jangan Ceroboh Kawasan
Orang Asal’, ‘Kami Bukan “Dan Lain-Lain”’, and ‘Hentikan
Eksploitasi Hak Kami’. The map to the Palace was also distributed to
everyone.
After moving barely a few hundred metres from Central Market, the participants
were stopped by the police.
This appeared confusing as yesterday, the police confirmed with the organisers
that they have approved the police permit for them to ‘walk’ to the Palace.
Despite intense negotiations, the organisers failed to rationalise with the
police to allow the walk to go on.
With deep disappointment, the organiser had to inform the participants to return
to The Annexe. Some participants showed mild resistance, but being the civic
minded lot they are, they obliged the police’s order and walked peacefully back
to The Annexe. Along the way, at least one or two representatives of the orang
asal were seen giving short interviews to the media protesting the police’s
action to stop the ‘walk’.
I end this report with the lyrics sung by the orang asal as they attempted to
march to the Palace:
Orang Asal … oh-oh … Orang Asal
Mengapa nangis, matamu bengkak
Aduh Papa, aduhlah mama
Ak Orang Asal, semakin ditindas
Orang Asal … oh-oh … Orang Asal
Mengapa nangis, matamu bengkak
Aduh aru, aduhlah aki
Adat kami hamper hilang
Orang Asal … oh-oh … Orang Asal
Jangan nangis, jangan putus asa
Ayuh semua, wahai Orang Asal
Mari berjuang, tahan adat kita
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Talk on Intellectual Property Law (10 Feb 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, the talk on “Intellectual Property Law” will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 10 Feb 2012 (Friday). The talk will feature Bahari Yeow Tien Hong. Click on the link above for more details.
The Case of the Missing Penang Lawyer: Charity Treasure Hunt 2012 (12 Feb 2012) Organised by the Penang Bar Committee Social Subcommittee in aid of the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM), this event will take place at Straits Quay, Penang, on 12 Feb 2012 (Sunday). Deadline for registration is 6 Feb 2012 (Monday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings (21 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, the seminar on “The Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings”, featuring Sanjeev Kumar Rasiah, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 21 Feb 2012 (Tuesday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Conveyancing (24 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar featuring Jeremiah R Gurusamy will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 24 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Mediation Skills Training Course (29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012) Organised by Bar Council, the Mediation Skills Training Course will take place at 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012 (Wednesday to Sunday). Deadline for registration and payment is 17 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on “Land Fraud: An Australian Perspective” (13 Mar 2012) Organised by IGIL, GSGSG and UUM COLGIS, this free talk featuring Quintin George Rozario of Delta Law, Brisbane, Australia, will take place at 9:00 am, at Dewan Seminar A, Pusat Konvensyen, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, on 13 Mar 2012 (Tuesday). To RSVP, contact Mr Abutt (04-928 4397; abutt@uum.edu.my).
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Circular No 019/2012: Change of Address for Pejabat Pengarah Tanah dan Galian Wilayah Persekutuan
