Report of the National Inquiry into the Land Rights of Indigenous Peoples
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2.18 As of the 2010 census, the population of Sarawak was 2,471,140 with the 28 indigenous
groups making up 71.2 percent of the population (Table 2). The Sea Dayak and Land Dayak
are names referring to the Iban and Bidayuh during the colonial period. The Iban make up
the largest ethnic group in Sarawak, comprising about 29% of the population. The Bidayuh
represent the third largest group and sub-divided into five different dialectic components namely
the Bukar Sadong (Serian), Biatah (Kuching), Jagoi (Bau), Selakau and Lara (Lundu). The
Orang Ulu comprises approximately 5 % of the total population in Sarawak. Orang Ulu is a
collective name given to the indigenous peoples generally found in the interiors of Sarawak
which includes the Bukitan, Bisaya, Ukit, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Lisum, Seping, Lun Bawang,
Tagal, Penan/Punan, Sihan/Sian and Tabun.
TABLE 2 : TOTAL POPULATION FOR SARAWAK AS OF THE LAST CENSUS 2010
NO
RACE
POPULATION
PERCENTAGE
1
Malay
568,113
22.98
2
Iban
713,421
28.87
3
Bidayuh
198,473
8.03
4
Melanau
123,410
4.99
5
Other Bumiputera
156,436
6.33
6
Chinese
577,646
27.42
7
Indian
7,411
0.29
8
Others
9,183
0.36
9
Non Citizen
117,092
4.73
2,471,140
100
Total
References: http://www.statistics.gov.my/portal/download_Population/files/census2010/ Taburan_Penduduk_dan_Ciriciri_Asas_Demografi.pdf
ORANG ASLI OF PENINSULAR MALAYSIA
2.19 Article 160 of the Federal Constitution defines an “aborigine” as “an aborigine of the Malay
Peninsula”.15 Section 3(2) of the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (APA) defines an Orang Asli as a
person whose parents are both aborigine or one parent, male or female, is or was, a member
of an aboriginal ethnic group. He or she can be a person of another race who is an adopted
child. The criteria are that he or she speaks an aboriginal language and habitually follows
an aboriginal way of life and aboriginal customs and beliefs, and includes a descendent of
that person. A child of a union between an aboriginal female and a male of another race is
an aborigine provided the child habitually speaks an aboriginal language, habitually follows
and aboriginal way of life, and aboriginal customs and beliefs and remains a member of the
aboriginal community. Under section 2 of the APA, an aboriginal ethnic group means a distinct
tribal division of aborigines as characterised by culture, language or social organisation and
includes any group that the State Authority may by order, declare to be an aboriginal ethnic
group.
15 “Aboriginal” is a common usage in many parts of the world, to refer to ‘first’ nations or first peoples. This is true in the settler
States of the USA, Canada and Australia.
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