SENATOR URGES ORANG ASLI REPRESENTATION IN KEY ADVISORY COUNCILS

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- The government has been urged to appoint representatives from the Orang Asli community to the National Unity Advisory Council and the National Education Council to ensure their voices are taken into account in policy formulation.

Senator Manolan Mohamad said that in view of current needs, Orang Asli representation is necessary in both councils or any top-level education advisory body so that decisions made are inclusive and responsive to on-the-ground realities.

“The Orang Asli voice must be at the policy-making table. Without correcting the narrative and ensuring such participation, the history and unity we aspire to will always be incomplete.

“In the past, education policy decisions were often made without considering realities in Orang Asli villages, such as limited internet access, long distances to schools, student dropouts and challenges related to mother-tongue languages,” he said during the debate on the Royal Address in the Dewan Negara today.

Manolan, who represents the Orang Asli community in the Senate, also raised concerns over the history curriculum at primary and secondary school levels, which he said still provides insufficient space for the contributions of the Orang Asli in nation-building, particularly during the Emergency period and post-colonial era.

“I hope the Education Ministry will establish a special committee involving academics and Orang Asli community leaders to review modules related to Orang Asli history, culture and customs in school history textbooks, in addition to developing digital enrichment materials and documentaries.

“This is important to enable the younger generation to understand the fact that the Orang Asli are an integral part of the mainstream history of our country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Pele Peter Tinggom proposed that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report, be incorporated as a core component of the secondary school syllabus from Form One to Form Five.

He said the proposal is in line with the royal address of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia Baginda, calling for the original intent of MA63 - grounded in unity, mutual respect and close cooperation between the states and the Federal Government - to be continuously strengthened.

Manolan said the move could be considered by the MADANI Government through the national education system to ensure the younger generation understands the foundations of Malaysia’s formation and the spirit embodied in the agreement.

Separately, Senator Azahar Hassan proposed that the government, together with the community, reassess the effectiveness of existing social support systems in light of the rising number of tragic cases linked to financial and emotional stress among the public.

He said financial pressure faced by the rakyat is no longer a hidden issue, noting that high household debt levels relative to gross domestic product (GDP) indicate a serious strain on the social structure.

“When a head of household feels hopeless due to an inability to provide basic necessities, rational judgement often gives way to darker emotions. We cannot merely offer condolences; we must deliver concrete solutions,” he said.

To address the issue, Azahar proposed setting up Financial Crisis Support Centres in every district to help individuals burdened by serious debt, while also calling for stronger mental health services through an increase in psychiatrists and clinical counsellors at government hospitals.

“Do not allow the people to wait months for mental health treatment until they eventually choose a tragic way out,” he said.

 Dewan Negara sits again tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA