A LEGAL ANALYSIS OF A HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH TO FOOD SECURITY FOR ORANG ASLI

International law recognises the right to food for all, including indigenous peoples. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) suggests four aspects of food security sustainability: availability, accessibility, utilisation, and food sustainability. In the context of Orang Asli in Malaysia, the Orang Asli Act 1954 does not expressly provide food security for Orang Asli. The National Agrofood Policy 2021–2030 needs to be revised to comprehensively address the issue of Orang Asli food security compared to international legal standards. The gaps in this law are one of the causes that contribute to the inability to address the issue of food security for Orang Asli holistically. Therefore, the main objective of this article is to critically analyse existing laws and policies related to the right to food and food security of Orang Asli and propose a food security model for Orang Asli based on human rights principles and international legal standards. This study employs doctrinal legal methodologies applicable to international law, domestic law, and policies pertinent to Orang Asli food security. The study found that the existing law in APA 1954 needs to be revised to guarantee food security for Orang Asli. Therefore, a hybrid legal model of food security for Orang Asli is significant to address this issue comprehensively as it combines the uniqueness of the customs and aspirations of Orang Asli, human rights principles, and international legal standards. This model could assist the government in accomplishing Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, and improve nutrition. Keywords: Food security; human rights; Orang Asli; rights to food; UNDRIP

The Implementation of Parliamentary Special Select Committees (Ad-Hoc) 2004-2012: An Important Lesson to Learn for Effective Checks and Balances in Future Parliament

In modern legislative institutions rely on Parliament to oversee government action, particularly through select committees (PSCs). PSCs are used in democratic parliaments to achieve good governance and hold the ruling government accountable. Nonetheless, the inadequacy of the current structure hinder the PSCs from operating effectively and efficiently. Therefore, the main objective of this article is to critically analyse the practices of the PSCs in the Parliament of Malaysia during Barisan Nasional from 2004 – 2012. This article adopts a qualitative approach of parliamentary ethnography through analysing documents as instruments in collecting data and library research. This study critically assesses the composition, membership and chairperson of the PSCs based on the provisions in the Standing Orders and other relevant statutes that govern parliamentary select committees in the Parliament. Based on the analysis, the article concluded that the composition of members and chairperson of PSCs during Barisan Nasional (2004 -2012) should be revisited and improved for future practice. Unlike the standards indicated in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures, 2018, the study found several areas that need revisiting, including composition, membership and chairperson of PSC

Paternalistic approach towards the Orang Asli in Malaysia: tracing its origin and justifications

Issue and challenges pertaining to land and the native communities loom large in contemporary Malaysian political and economic affairs. Responding to them often necessitates an understanding of their genesis. The main objective of this study was to examine the importance of land and natural resources to the life of the Orang Asli, and to demonstrate that their limited autonomy was the reason why the British claimed that they needed state protection. To achieve this objective secondary data were examined to provide information background of the Orang Asli, the relationship between Orang Asli and the Malays during pre-colonial period, the relationship between the Orang Asli and the British colonial government during colonial periods, and the relevant policies towards the Orang Asli by both the Malays and the British colonial government during the pre-colonial and colonial periods. This article concludes that the paternalistic approach towards the Orang Asli was adopted during the pre-colonial period and the approach was continued and to the certain extent worsened during British colonial period in which the Orang Asli were treated in a paternalistic manner as compared to the Malays, in particular, with regard to land matters

Mampukah perintah berkurung membanteras jenayah dalam kalangan remaja di Malaysia?

Kejadian jenayah dalam kalangan masyarakat sangat membimbangkan. Menurut statistik jenayah oleh Kementerian Dalam Negeri, jumlah jenayah yang direkodkan berdasarkan kertas siasatan yang dibuka ialah 657,174 sepanjang tahun 2012 hingga tahun 2016. Pada 17 Januari 2019, kerajaan berhasrat untuk mengkaji pelaksanaan perintah berkurung kepada remaja bawah umur 18 tahun bagi membendung kegiatan jenayah dalam kalangan remaja pada waktu malam. Sehubungan dengan itu, objektif utama artikel ini adalah untuk menganalisis isu perintah berkurung terhadap remaja yang berusia kurang daripada 18 tahun menurut perspektif undang-undang. Pada masa yang sama, artikel ini juga akan menerangkan kedudukan perlakuan jenayah yang melibatkan remaja dengan memfokuskan kepada jenayah penyalahgunaan dadah. Di samping itu, artikel ini turut meninjau amalan beberapa buah negara luar berhubung dengan undang-undang yang berkaitan dengan perintah berkurung kepada remaja. Artikel ini mendapati bahawa terdapat kelompangan undang-undang berhubung dengan perintah berkurung kepada remaja bawah 18 tahun di Malaysia. Oleh hal yang demikian, pelbagai pertimbangan dan kajian lebih terperinci perlu dibuat sekiranya kerajaan serius untuk melaksanakan perintah berkurung kepada remaja bawah 18 tahun. Cadangan pewujudan undang-undang berhubung dengan perintah berkurung ini haruslah bersifat holistik tanpa melanggar peruntukan perlembagaan persekutuan dan prinsip hak asasi manusia. Oleh itu, hasrat murni kerajaan untuk membanteras jenayah dalam kalangan remaja wajar disokong dan pada masa yang sama aspek cadangan pelaksanaan perintah berkurung terhadap remaja bawah 18 tahun juga perlu diteliti sedalam-dalamnya

Sejarah hak penentuan kendiri orang asal di bawah undang-undang antarabangsa

Perkara 3 Deklarasi Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu mengenai Hak Orang Asal (DHOA) mengiktiraf hak penentuan kendiri orang asal. Sebelum menerima pengiktirafan di peringkat antarabangsa, orang asal telah melalui pelbagai cabaran. Sehubungan itu, objektif utama artikel ini adalah untuk menerangkan sejarah dan perkembangan hak penentuan kendiri orang asal di bawah undang-undang antarabangsa. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah sosio perundangan. Untuk menjelaskan sejarah hak penentuan kendiri orang asal, perbincangan dalam artikel ini dibahagi kepada empat bahagian. Pada bahagian pertama, penulisan ini menjelaskan definisi dan status hak penentuan kendiri orang asal di bawah undang-undang antarabangsa. Pada bahagian kedua, penulisan menjelaskan sejarah hak penentuan kendiri dengan merujuk hak kepada semua orang. Bahagian ketiga pula menghuraikan perkembangan hak penentuan kendiri orang asal sehingga mendapat pengiktirafan di bawah undang-undang antarabangsa. Perbincangan perkembangan pengiktirafan hak penentuan kendiri tersebut merangkumi usaha yang dilakukan di peringkat Kumpulan Kerja Populasi Orang Asal (KKPOA) dan Kumpulan Kerja Deraf Deklarasi mengenai Hak Orang Asal (KKDD). Artikel ini merumuskan dalam bahagian keempat bahawa pengiktirafan hak penentuan kendiri adalah sangat penting untuk memastikan perlindungan hak orang asal di bawah undang-undang sesebuah Negara agar selari dengan piawaian undang-undang antarabangsa dan seterusnya membantu Negara untuk melaksanakan obligasi undang-undang antarabangsanya

Amalan Bodong dan hak penentuan kendiri dalam kalangan komuniti Orang Asal di Kalinga, Filipina

Pengiktirafan hak penentuan kendiri orang asal telah termaktub di bawah perkara 3, Deklarasi Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu mengenai Hak Orang Asal (DHOA). Walau bagaimanapun, pengiktirafan dari segi amalan di peringkat domestik masih menjadi persoalan. Sehubungan itu, objektif utama artikel ini adalah untuk menganalisis pengiktirafan hak penentuan kendiri orang asal melalui amalan Bodong dalam kalangan orang asal (Indigenous Cultural Communities dan Indigenous Peoples) (ICC/IP) Kalinga, di Filipina. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah sosio-perundangan. Bagi mencapai objektif tersebut, data diperolehi melalui kajian lapangan dan kajian perpustakaan dengan menganalisis menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif. Kajian ini mendapati bahawa amalan Bodong merupakan salah satu simbol pengiktirafan hak penentuan kendiri dari segi amalan dalam kalangan ICC/IP. Pengiktirafan ini menunjukkan bahawa ICC/IP mempunyai autonomi terhadap kehidupan dan amalan tradisi mereka. Amalan ini boleh dianggap sebagai menifestasi pengiktirafan hak penentuan kendiri seperti yang dianjurkan oleh undang-undang antarabangsa. Artikel ini merumuskan bahawa pelaksanaan hak penentuan kendiri orang asal perlu diberi perhatian oleh semua negara agar selari dengan undang-undang antarabangsa. Semua pihak perlu memainkan peranan bagi memastikan pengiktarafan hak penentuan kendiri ini dapat dilaksanakan. Kesimpulannya, pengiktirafan amalan Bodong wajar dijadikan contoh agar pengiktirafan hak orang asal dapat diperkasakan secara menyeluruh, seterusnya dapat membantu kerajaan dan pemegang taruh untuk memenuhi obligasi undang-undang antarabangsa mereka terhadap orang asal

Kedudukan Orang Asli pada era penjajahan

Objektif utama artikel ini adalah untuk menganalisis sejarah dan kedudukan Orang Asli pada era penjajahan. Aspek sejarah ini adalah penting bagi menjelaskan kedudukan Orang Asli dan implikasi sejarah terhadap pengenalan undang-undang berkaitan Orang Asli. Sehubungan itu, bagi mencapai objektif tersebut, artikel ini menerangkan latar belakang Orang Asli di Semenanjung Malaysia yang merangkumi definisi Orang Asli, klasifikasi Orang Asli dan asal usul Orang Asli secara ringkas. Selain menfokuskan kedudukan Orang Asli pada zaman penjajahan, artikel ini turut membincangkan kedudukan Orang Asli pada zaman sebelum penjajahan yang meliputi aspek sosioekonomi dan politik. Artikel ini mendapati bahawa kedudukan Orang Asli mula berubah setelah masyarakat Melayu mendominasi dan seterusnya perubahan makin ketara apabila penjajah luar mula bertapak di Tanah Melayu. Penjajahan kuasa luar juga telah memberikan kesan terhadap layanan dan undang-undang berkaitan Orang Asli di Semenanjung Malaysia. Kedudukan Orang Asli mula mengalami beberapa perubahan dan pembaharuan setelah merdeka. Sungguhpun begitu, tragedi hitam dan kesengsaraan yang dialami Orang Asli pada era penjajahan dan darurat tidak begitu mudah untuk dilupakan dan terus terpahat sebagai sejarah hidup masyarakat Orang Asli

INDIGENOUS EDUCATION FOR THE ORANG ASLI: LEGAL PERSPECTIVES AND BEST PRACTICES

This study reviews legal instruments relevant to the rights of indigenous peoples to education, the indigenous education system in Malaysia, as well as their rights and practices in other jurisdictions. The review shows that the indigenous peoples in Malaysia face many challenges and issues while exercising their rights to education. Among the problems faced by indigenous peoples in Malaysia include the lack of access to trained teachers, inadequate funding, and a lack of knowledge among teachers, in terms of indigenous culture and tradition, which seemingly play no role in shaping the education system in Malaysia. Evidence of these problems can be seen in terms of the opportunities provided to indigenous peoples to participate in decision-making, curriculum design, teachers' selection, and teaching methods that respect indigenous cultures and traditions. This is not compatible with the international law standards and some states' best practices that recognize indigenous peoples' right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions and provide education in their language, in a manner consistent with non-discrimination teaching and learning culture. This paper is expected to contribute to improving the quality of education of the indigenous peoples in Malaysia through some recommendations.   Keywords: Education, human rights, international, Malaysia, Orang Asli.   Cite as: Nordin, R., Hassan, M. S., Wong Rui Fern, V., Cherley, M., & Bala Subramaniam, L. (2020). Indigenous education for the Orang Asli: Legal perspectives and best practices.  Journal of Nusantara Studies, 5(2), 365-383. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol5iss2pp365-38

Criminal profiling then and now: prospect and challenges in Malaysia

The purpose of this article was to ascertain the concept of criminal profiling by taking into consideration the evolution of its definition, function, methodology and also the background of profiling officers from the beginning up to the present time. Using the critical and literature review approach, references from journals, books, statutes and international cases were analyzed to pinpoint the most recent developments to the criminal profiling method. While researches and literature reviews regarding criminal profiling were undoubtedly significant overseas, it was not the same case back in our homeland. Discussions were few and even then, not entirely focusing nor mentioning the procedures and practice of criminal profiling during investigation. It was also found that there seem to yet exist a clarity in regards to the definition and methodology of criminal profiling nor the background of profiler involved despite it being carried out during investigative process for a long period of time. This article also highlighted the challenges discovered in the practice of criminal profiling such as the vagueness of its method in our law, the existence of race-based profiling practice and the credibility of criminal profiling as an expert evidence in courts which was debatable due to the absence of any yardstick to determine the capability of a profiler