Chapter 3 - Report of the Research and Policy Development Group
(vii) The Community Learning Centre (CLC) in Sabah was developed by the Partners of
Community Organisation in Sabah (PACOS Trust), to provide formal (kindergarten/nursery)
and informal education for children aged 4-6. The CLC also serves as a community meeting
place for discussions and programmes on the development of the economic system, and
land and resource management. The CLC provides a place for Indigenous Peoples to learn,
share and protect traditional knowledge and skills. These include handicraft-making,
songs/dances, stories, music, language, food, terminology documentation and background
documentation for village children. The establishment of the CLC is based on Articles 29
and 30 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Articles 13 and 14 of the
UNDRIP.
(viii) Gerai OA comprises volunteers who sell unique indigenous handicraft such as handmade
baskets and jewellery throughout Malaysia. This is intended to preserve indigenous
heritage and culture, promote indigenous arts to the public, document craft-making, foster
reproduction of the craft heritage, improve production techniques, create new markets,
and assist craft makers in supplementing their income. The full proceeds of sales are
returned to the craft makers, to pay their children’s school fees or to invest in the opening
of farms.
(ix) Since the MOH took over the management of the Orang Asli Hospital in Gombak, Selangor,
from the JAKOA, a special unit has been set up to address health issues of Indigenous
Peoples. The MOH strictly enforces regulations on maintaining the standard of drugs
provided to all patients, including Orang Asli.
(x)
The Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia or Jaringan Orang Asal Se-Malaysia (JOAS)
has done extensive work in promoting the UNDRIP and applying its provisions in court
cases. This has led to several landmark decisions that have upheld the rights of Indigenous
Peoples. Since Malaysia’s adoption of the UNDRIP in 2007, JOAS has conducted numerous
road shows and workshops nationwide, and produced popular materials to create
awareness of the Declaration mainly among Indigenous Peoples.
(e) Other Events
The Commission was involved in other events involving the interests of Indigenous Peoples:
•
Conferences and talks organised by Pusat Pengajian Pribumi, Universiti Malaya
•
A photo exhibition on ’Nomads in the Belum Temengor Rainforest – Modernity,
Change and their Future’ organised by the Malaysian Nature Society
•
Focus Group Discussions organised by the UNDP on ’Study and Review of the Socioeconomic Status of Aboriginal Peoples (Orang Asli) in Peninsular Malaysia for the
Formulation of a National Development Plan for the Orang Asli Project’
•
A Land Conference organised by Sinui Pai Nanak Sengik, Jaringan Kampung Orang
Asli Semenanjung Malaysia and Pusat KOMAS
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