Mat Tyson JHEOA statement: Another foot in mouth disease by BN leader?

This was highlighted to me by our bro Dr Mokk and found the statement here at kedayan.

Tan Sri Muhammad, you think we are orang asli or what?

Written by Arimi Sidek
Monday, 06 October 2008

Orang Asli Dept role for Sabah?

NABAWAN:
The role of the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA), which has successfully developed the Orang Asli community in Peninsular Malaysia, will be reviewed and extended to Sabah.
Rural and Regional Development Minister, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, said his Ministry might consider extending the role of the department to Sabah if there is a request for it.

Speaking to reporters after launching the Mesra Rakyat Programme with the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, organised by Kemas, at Kampung Murni, near here, Sunday, he said Pensiangan would be a priority area as far as development was concerned. Full news here

Senoi
Orang Asli Dept for Sabah, you're kidding right?
Let's talk about it with a little bit of openness and honesty; for the goodness sake of the state.


Negrito
Jabatan hal ehwal orang asli (JHEOA) may be successful in peninsula. But easy to claim that it is successfull when in reality, JHEOA is the only department in Malaysia with the sole purpose of dealing with orang asli affairs. It may or may not succesfull at all.

This is because, if Jabatan Orang Asli is so successful, why there are many complaints about it?

Read critics about JHEOA and orang asli wellbeing here, here, here, and here.

Among the most prominents critics is right on JHEOA core role itself. It seems to propagates malaynization or even Umnonization process more than to really bring about true progress and development to orang asli community. I have no grudge on Islamization of orang asli, though, as most were animists prior their conversion to Islam. But apart from Islam, many natives in Sabah are christians now, and the same approach of malaynization and Islamization may not quite applicable here.

There is another reservation, correct me if I'm wrong here. In the eyes of many mainstream malays in peninsula, orang aslis fall into proto-malay category. Right, they too, are bumis. But, they always in a lower status in comparison to 'proper' malays. This isn't stated anywhere in our constitution, it is all about sentiment and stigma. Malays never equalize themselves with Jah Hut, Jakun, Mah Meri or Senoi for that matter.

Some of you may not understand this; so let's use 'downgrade' and 'upgrade' term. Malays never equalize themselves with orang asli down to the level of jakuns, negritos, semangs, etc.. Just go and check around with any KLites malays if you don't believe me. It is considered as a downgrade, if not blasphemy.

Or, if you are a good sprinter, go to any bus stops in peninsular Malaysia and say “woi jakun” or “woi senoi” clearly to any available [and healthy] malay youths there; and see if they're happy to give you a good chase in a bright sunny day or not. Full article

Tokasid: on the surface the intentions might be good but I gathered from friends in Sabah and Sarawak, the statement is like an insult to them.

Now, if JHEOA were to go into Sabah and Sarawak, which group will fall into the Orang Asli category? The Kadazan?Dusun?Bajau? Orang Ulu? Melanau?Iban?Penan?Bidayuh?

They are now grouped into Bumiputera.Withl this move, will the be rename into the Orang Asli group?

It appears to me that Mat Taib opened his mouth without thinking about the feelings of the ppl of both Sabah and Sarawak.Was it to get more nomination for his Timbalan Presiden's post?