Indigenous education policy in Malaysia: a discussion of normalization in schooling

This paper argues that Malaysian education systems which have a mainstream orientation and very little consideration is given to the educational requirements, cultural context and also languages of Indigenous peoples (Orang Asli). This has indirectly impacted the educational outcomes for Orang Asli students with limited acknowledgment of the rights of Indigenous people in the education system. Therefore, it is important for educators to address educational disadvantage and the rights of Orang Asli in schools because it can contribute to social justice and hinder the learning process and education outcomes. This paper adopts Michel Foucault's notion of power, knowledge and normalization in explaining and understanding the issues in aspects of language, culture and pedagogy in schools. In this paper, I focus on normalization issues in education policy for Indigenous peoples which has impacted on the academic performance of Orang Asli students. Lastly, this paper provides analysis of the current practices and policy of Indigenous education that can contribute to improving the current policy and ensuring justice for all students. These issues remain important in improving equity and self-determination among Orang Asli and ensuring social justice for Orang Asli in Malaysia

Penggunaan Barangan dan Perkhidmatan Sebagai Petunjuk Pembangunan Komuniti Orang Asli di Daerah Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Kajian ini menjelaskan penggunaan barangan dan perkhidmatan sebagai petunjuk kepada pembangunan komuniti dalam kalangan komuniti Orang Asli di daerah Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Komuniti Orang Asli sudah mula mengalami perubahan dari segi penggunaan barangan serta perkhidmatan dan apa yang ingin dipaparkan adalah nilai konsumerisme dan penggunaan barangan serta perkhidmatan merupakan manifestasi kepada salah satu petunjuk kepada pembangunan komuniti dalam masyarakat Orang Asli. Justeru, kajian ini bertujuan menentukan tahap nilai konsumerisme serta penggunaan barangan dan perkhidmatan; menentukan hubungan tahap nilai konsumerisme dengan tahap penggunaan barangan serta perkhidmatan; menjelaskan penggunaan barangan dan perkhidmatan sebagai salah satu petunjuk pembangunan komuniti; dan menentukan hubungan latar belakang dengan tahap nilai konsumerisme, tahap penggunaan barangan serta perkhidmatan. Seramai 325 Orang Asli dari seluruh perkampungan Orang Asli di daerah Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan terlibat dalam kajian ini. Reka bentuk kajian adalah secara tinjauan dengan menggunakan borang soal selidik. Pemerhatian tidak turut serta juga digunakan dalam kajian ini. Analisis kajian adalah secara deskriptif. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa tahap kepenggunaan barangan adalah di tahap yang rendah dan tahap penggunaan perkhidmatan di tahap sederhana manakala tahap nilai konsumerisme pula, di tahap sederhana. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan tidak terdapatnya hubungan yang signifikan antara tahap nilai konsumerisme dengan tahap penggunaan barangan (²=0.807; p=0.668) dan perkhidmatan (²=2.940; p=0.230). Dapatan kajian tentang hubungan latar belakang dengan tahap nilai konsumerisme menunjukkan ia mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan jantina (²=4.570; p=0.03), tahap pendidikan (²=8.674; p=0.01) dan pendapatan (²=8.592; p=0.01). Dalam aspek hubungan latar belakang dengan tahap penggunaan barangan pula dapatan kajian menunjukkan ia mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan pendapatan (²=33.288; p=0.001), tahap pendidikan (²=75.839; p=0.001) dan lokasi (²=10.610; p=0.005). Selain itu, terdapatnya hubungan yang signifikan antara pendapatan (²=10.235; p=0.03), tahap pendidikan (²=27.254; p=0.001) dan lokasi (²=30.888; p=0.001) dengan tahap penggunaan perkhidmatan. Secara kesimpulannya dapat disimpulkan bahawa penggunaan barangan dan perkhidmatan dalam kalangan komuniti Orang Asli sudah mula berubah ke arah penggunaan arus perdana. Justeru elemen pembangunan dari segi dalaman dan fizikal sudah mula berubah ke arah pembangunan arus perdana dengan penggunaan barangan dan perkhidmatan sebagai salah satu petunjuk kepada pembangunan komuniti Orang Asli. Implikasinya, pengetahuan dan pendidikan mengenai kepenggunaan wajar diberikan kepada komuniti Orang Asli agar mereka tidak menjadi mangsa hedonisme kemewahan dunia moden yang dibawa oleh arus perdana

Kesejahteraan Subjektif Kewangan dalam kalangan Orang Asli Mah Meri di Pulau Carey, Selangor

Komuniti Orang Asli sudah mula mengalami perubahan dari segi kesejahteraan kewangan. Oleh itu kesejahteraan kewangan dalam kajian ini hanya mengambil kira dimensi subjektif. Justeru, makalah ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti konsep kesejahteraan subjektif kewangan dalam kalangan Orang Asli Mah Meri. Seramai 15 Orang Asli Mah Meri dalam kalangan Ketua Isi Rumah (KIK) dari seluruh perkampungan Orang Asli Mah Meri di Selangor terlibat dalam kajian ini. Kajian ini dijalankan secara kualitatif dengan reka bentuk kajian adalah secara exploratory. Pengumpulan data dilakukan secara temu bual mendalam dan Teknik Kumpulan Nominal (NGT). Pemerhatian tidak turut serta juga digunakan dalam kajian ini. Analisis kajian adalah berasaskan tema. Hasil kajian terhadap konsep kesejahteraan subjektif kewangan terdapat tiga tema besar dibentuk iaitu: (i) kecukupan; (ii) keselesaan; dan (iii) kepuasan yang menggambarkan taksiran psikologikal terhadap dimensi kehidupan iaitu aspek kewangan. Hasil kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa pengalaman hidup masyarakat Orang Asli terhadap penggunaan barangan dan perkhidmatan sudah mula berubah dalam kalangan komuniti Orang Asli Mah Meri. Mereka sudah mula menikmati dan menggunakan barangan dan perkhidmatan moden untuk kepuasan dan keselesaan mereka. Implikasinya, kesan daripada pembangunan yang ada, kehidupan masyarakat Orang Asli sudah mula berubah. Walaupun secara objektif nya masih nampak kekurangan namun dari segi kesejahteraan subjektif mereka sudah mula berubah

Phenomenon of transsexual behaviour among youth in Kuala Lumpur: a case study

Understanding the complex lives of transsexual groups is essential in order to resolve this issue in a more intellectual, systematic and effective manner. Thus, this case study was aimed at knowing more about male-to-female transsexuals, especially among youth, by studying their sexual orientation as well as how far a sense of femininity is felt by them. Eight transsexual women were the informants recruited for this study based on snowball sampling technique. Each informant had completed a semi-structured interview at least twice. The basis of the interview was the principle of saturation in which the informants had been interviewed until no new ideas were emerging. The interview was audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and checked for content based on thematic analysis technique. The findings revealed two important themes from the narrative of the informants, namely, their gender identification and sexual orientation. In terms of gender identification, it was found that all the informants identified themselves according to feminine features although the features did not match their own physical features. Meanwhile, in terms of sexual orientation, the results showed that this group of transsexuals preferred to engage in sexual activities. For them, sexual satisfaction was only achievable by engaging in such sexual activities because of their sexual instinct, which was similar to that of women. One implication of this feature would be a potential rise in social problems. Thus, all parties should cooperate to combat this issue aggressively and effectively

Indigenous education rights: the Malaysian case

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was created to give Indigenous peoples the right to determine their own educational system. In article 14 it is stated that, Indigenous peoples have the right to establish and control their educational systems and institutions, providing education in their own languages; in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning. Ever since the 61 years of independence, Orang Asli has never been neglected or excluded from the government’s planning in ensuring their education development. Therefore, this paper relied on the qualitative approach using secondary data. This paper reviews the current and the past reports from 1995 until 2015 that reflect the shifts in government policy of Indigenous education in Malaysia. The data were then analysed using thematic analysis. Evidences from a range of reports, have been utilised to shed light on why Indigenous peoples’ educational disadvantage persists, despite extensive government and community effort and resources. This paper also highlights and recommends the self-determination, equity and recognition for Orang Asli education system. Furthermore, Orang Asli have the best knowledge of their culture and curriculum needs and the most appropriate approach, which enable them to cater for their own particular circumstances and create a successful outcome in the development of Indigenous education policy

Acculturation of consumerism among the Orang Asli community in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan

This article is based on the research results which were intended to identify consumerism trends among the Orang Asli , particularly with regards to purchase of luxury goods and management of their finances. The concept of consumerism refers to the motivation of an individual to identify himself or herself by means of a product or service, especially one which is commercially branded and denotes status. A total of 215 Orang Asli from five settlements in the district of Jelebu were involved in this study. Gathering of information was done by means of both qualitative and quantitative data collections. These include in-depth interviews and observations along with the simple random survey technique using questionnaires. Research findings show that consumerism among the Orang Asli does not differ much from other mainstream communities. They employ luxury items and services in very much the same way as done by other mainstream communities. From the aspect of financial management, however, they occupy the lowest rungs, and a substantial portion of their income is allocated for the purpose of procuring luxury goods. This is done to such an extent that it denies them the means for other more important and needed purposes. The implication of this research finding is that knowledge and information regarding the utilization and management of finances ought to be assimilated by the Orang Asli community, so that they do not become victims of modern-world hedonism and luxury brought about by the mainstream society

The school experience of Malay adolescent with conduct issues

This research is designed to explore how Malay adolescents who have been identified with conduct issues understand their school experiences. This research is a qualitative research, which utilized Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as an analysis method. Ten participants were recruited from a rehabilitation center for young offenders in Malaysia. Each participant completed at least two semi-structured interviews. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, translated and analyzed for content. Through the emerging themes namely subject-oriented, issues pertaining to English as a medium of instruction, the nature of the school, inconsistency between personal interests and what the school has to offer, experiencing teaching and learning issues and individual differences related to school experiences, analysis suggest that participants felt disadvantaged by the school system. They felt that the education policies and school environment were irrelevant and unresponsive to their capabilities, needs, desires and interests. Thus, apart from benefiting people who work closely with these adolescents, this research provides the voice for the participant so that they feel heard

Fenomena pengulangan penagihan dadah dalam kalangan banduan belia di Penjara Pulau Pinang

Kajian berfokus kepada permasalahan, faktor penyumbang serta atribusi sosial berkaitan pengulangan penagihan dadah dalam kalangan banduan belia Melayu di Penjara Pulau Pinang. Responden kajian merupakan banduan belia berbangsa Melayu yang sedang menjalani hukuman penjara di Penjara Pulau Pinang dan pernah mengalami pengulangan penagihan dadah. Kajian yang dilaksanakan ini akan cuba mengenal pasti faktor-faktor yang menyebabkan responden kembali mengambil dadah semula setelah mengikuti program pemulihan di Penjara Pulau Pinang. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif. Seramai 10 orang belia yang merupakan banduan di Penjara Pulau Pinang dan berumur antara 21 tahun sehingga 40 tahun telah terlibat dalam kajian ini. Penemuan kajian ini mendapati antara faktor-faktor penyebab responden kembali mengambil dadah adalah ingatan responden pada dadah masih lagi kuat, hati tidak kuat untuk melawan keinginan terhadap dadah, belum wujud keinginan untuk berhenti dari mengambil dadah, sikap dan stigma masyarakat yang memandang negatif, ketiadaan pekerjaan dan wang untuk menampung kehidupan dan kembali bergaul dengan rakan-rakan yang masih lagi mengambil dadah. Cadangan program dan cadangan kajian akan datang dikemukakan berdasarkan kepada hasil penemuan dan analisis transkrip temu bual dengan responden belia penagih berulang