Recognise indigenous rights NOW
“For generations, Orang Asli and Asal have protected their forests, rivers and ancestral territories. Recognising customary lands is not only a matter of justice and human rights, it is essential for protecting nature and securing a sustainable future for all.
We call on the Malaysian government to take immediate action to recognise and protect Orang Asli and Asal customary lands.” – Albert Bansa, Environmental Campaigner, Greenpeace Malaysia.
Today, the heart of Malaysia’s administrative capital bore witness to a people who have been ignored for far too long. From six states across Peninsular Malaysia (Selangor, Pahang, Perak, Kelantan, Johor & Negeri Sembilan), Orang Asli and Orang Asal flowed through the streets of Putrajaya, united by a rallying cry that should never have been silenced: recognise their customary land rights.
More than 1,500 Orang Asli and Orang Asal men, women, elders, and youth travelled by 32 buses and countless other means, carrying with them the hopes of their communities and the weight of generations who came before them. Each step taken on the march to the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) echoed with the sacrifices of those who have borne the responsibility of safeguarding their forests, rivers, and ancestral territories across generations.
These lands are not merely places on a map; they are their source of identity, culture, livelihood, and sense of belonging. They hold the memories of ancestors and the promise of future generations. Today, Indigenous communities stood united to demand what should never have been denied: the recognition, respect, dignity and protection of their customary land rights.
The message carried to Putrajaya was simple: customary land rights are not a privilege to be granted, but a right that must be recognised.
Photos available on the Greenpeace Media Library. ©Greenpeace
