As Malaysia moves to amend the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134) for the first time in over 70 years, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has revealed that the government is drawing inspiration from the empowerment model of the Māori community in New Zealand.
During his official visit to Wellington, Zahid stated that the proposed amendments to Act 134 aim to go beyond land ownership and address broader issues such as education, entrepreneurship, and access to financing for the Orang Asli community.
“This Act 134 is 71 years old, and many aspects need to be re-examined” Zahid said. “In New Zealand, we are not only looking at land ownership issues, but also rights in education, business and financing.”
Although Zahid did not specifically mention it, New Zealand’s Indigenous policy framework is widely recognised as being underpinned by the Treaty of Waitangi, which has led to extensive reforms supporting Māori self-determination. These include dedicated Māori health, education, and economic institutions – most notably the Ministry of Māori Development known as Te Puni Kōkiri.
Zahid’s remarks signal a shift in Malaysia’s approach to Indigenous affairs, with the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) now tasked with restructuring its community development model to go beyond basic needs and welfare.
“We do not want the agency to be seen as merely a place to distribute aid and incentives,” Zahid explained. “We want it to act as an institution that empowers.”
The visit also involved bilateral meetings with Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka and leaders from the Islamic community in New Zealand, reflecting a broader agenda of knowledge exchange and international collaboration.
If implemented thoughtfully, the policy exchange could lay the foundation for a more inclusive and progressive framework that uplifts Malaysia’s Indigenous communities through rights recognition and institutional support.
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