Indigenous People In Malaysia Research Articles

Understanding Disparity in Education and Challenges among Indigenous Communities: A Case Study

The educational gap among the Orang Asli communities in Malaysia is a persistent challenge, despite the country's progress in education. A variety of ethnic groups with diverse cultures and languages make up the Orang Asli, the indigenous people of Malaysia. This paper examines the diverse educational disparities among the Orang Asli and highlights the key factors that contribute to them. Parental influence and awareness play a crucial role in the educational success of Orang Asli children. Many Orang Asli parents have had little exposure to formal education; they are unaware of the importance of education in improving their own lives and those of their children. As a result, they often find it difficult to be a positive role model for their children, leading to poor educational performance. Another major hurdle for Orang Asli students is poor accessibility. These communities are usually located in remote and rural areas, far away from well-developed cities and towns. Inadequate infrastructure, such as unpaved roads and bridges, and the lack of public transportation contribute to the long and arduous journey to school. This demotivates the children and hinders their progress at school. Socio-economic factors further exacerbate the inequalities. Many Orang Asli families live in poverty, which limits their ability to provide school supplies, uniforms and transportation. Their remote location and financial burden create additional barriers to education. The education and income level of parents influence the school dropout rate, with the parents' education level being a particularly important factor. If parents do not have a higher education, it is difficult to adequately support and guide their children in their educational journey. As Malaysia strives to provide equal access to education for all citizens, including indigenous communities, these findings highlight the need for targeted interventions. Raising awareness among parents, improving accessibility, and providing socio-economic support are important steps to reduce educational inequality among the Orang Asli.

Building a sustainable sanitation culture in indigenous people of Malaysia: A systematic literature study

The sanitation challenges faced by indigenous Malaysian communities are driving an urgent paradigm shift in sanitation approaches. This article highlights the journey toward the formation of a sustainable sanitation culture among indigenous Malaysians. Against the background of poor sanitation conditions in these communities, the main problems raised were a lack of access to adequate sanitation facilities and low awareness of hygiene practices. The aim of this study is to identify and analyze normative and empirical approaches that can be used to improve sanitation conditions. The research method uses a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and qualitative analysis to understand the traditional sanitation paradigm of indigenous societies. The process follows the PRISMA circuit, involving the identification, selection, and in-depth analysis of articles from a number of databases, such as Scopus and Google Scholar, focusing on the cultural values and sanitation practices that shape their sanitation paradigm. The results show that strong partnerships between governments, NGOs, and civil society are key to achieving significant changes in the sanitation culture. The recommendations of this article include the need for investment in better sanitation infrastructure, development of inclusive education and public awareness programs, and strengthening of public participation in the planning and implementation of sanitation programs. Thus, this article provides in-depth insights into concrete efforts to create a positive transformation in sanitation culture among Malaysian natives.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 prevention among indigenous population in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a significant challenge to humanity, especially marginalized groups such as indigenous people. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 prevention among the indigenous population in Lipis district, Pahang, Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the indigenous population and the data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a validated questionnaire. The mean score of knowledge, attitude, and practice were 2.35 (SD 1.104), 32.84 (SD 4.756), and 9.64 (SD 3.227), respectively. In the bivariable analysis, the younger the age (p < 0.001), and the higher the education level (p = 0.001) of the participants, the higher the knowledge score on COVID-19. Meanwhile, the female participants (p = 0.043) and the higher the household income, the higher the attitude score of the participants (p = 0.006). Factors that contributed to a higher score of practice towards COVID-19 prevention were younger age (p = 0.013), female (p < 0.001), no religion (p = 0.026), unemployed (p < 0.001), and higher household income (p = 0.012). There was a positive correlation between knowledge score and practice score (p = 0.001) and a positive correlation between attitude score and practice score (p < 0.001), respectively. Multivariable regression analysis showed that the younger age (p < 0.001) was significantly associated with a higher knowledge score. Furthermore, female (p = 0.018), unemployed (p = 0.001), higher knowledge score (p < 0.001), and higher attitude score (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a higher score of practice towards COVID-19 prevention among the participants, respectively. Indigenous people in Malaysia have a good knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19. However, strategic planning and programmes related to preventive practices against infectious disease outbreaks need to be conducted continuously to reduce the outbreaks in the future.

Cultural Preservation in the Digital Age: The Future of Indigenous Folktales and Legends

Innovations in second language teaching are essential for sustaining students’ interest and motivation in the classroom. This paper presents an innovative project that integrates the reading of folktales from the Semai, an indigenous people of Malaysia, into ESL learning to enhance both linguistic skills and cultural awareness. The project involved 30 diploma students enrolled in a proficiency class, where reading is a key component of the syllabus. Students were introduced to ghost stories from The Myths of Semai, which they were required to read, comprehend, and respond to personally. As part of the project, students retold these stories by creating animated videos, utilizing storyboards to dramatize the tales and video editing apps to compile the storyboards into completed animations. These videos were then presented in class and uploaded to YouTube, making them accessible to a wider audience of ESL learners. In addition to the video creation, students were asked to write reflective journals detailing their learning experiences with the Semai folktales. The reflections were systematically analysed to identify emerging themes, revealing the profound impact of this innovative approach on students’ engagement and learning outcomes. The findings suggest that incorporating indigenous stories into ESL curricula can significantly enhance cross-cultural awareness and foster acceptance of diverse traditions. This approach not only strengthens language skills but also enriches students’ understanding of cultural diversity. Future research could further explore the application of such methods across various educational contexts and among different learner groups.

Judicial Decisions on Indigenous Peoples’ Land Rights: An Appraisal of Its Effect

This paper highlights the impact of selected judicial decisions on the claims to land rights by the indigenous peoples in Malaysia. A judicial impact study is important because court decisions can alter the status of law that controls social and political behaviour and/or elicit responses from other political actors, thus influencing policy and political outcomes. The Malaysian Courts have played a significant role in developing law that acknowledges indigenous customary rights in Malaysia. For example, the case of Nor Anak Nyawai and Others v Borneo Pulp Plantation Sdn Bhd [2001] 6 MLJ 241 not only clarified the legal position of native customary rights but also had a profound impact in the Malaysian legal system. The judgment had aided in the reoccupation of the Iban’s territories. Sagong bin Tasi &amp; Ors v. Kerajaan Negeri Selangor [2002] 2 CLJ 591 recognised that indigenous customary land rights were of equal legal status to full ownership or title to the land in Peninsular Malaysia. By applying doctrinal legal research, the three cases selected are, first, the landmark case of Director of Forest, Sarawak &amp; Anor v. TR Sandah Tabau &amp; Ors and Other Appeals [2017] 2 MLRA 91 which led to the amendment of the Sarawak Land Code 1958. The second and third cases are claims by the Orang Asli in Pos Dakoh and Pos Belatim against the government of Kelantan and in which consent judgments were entered. This study would be significant in emphasizing the impact of judicial decisions and the need for courts to ensure that the decision is carried out as well. Regardless of the courts’ findings, the government’s implementation of such decisions is still insufficient. Nonetheless, certain indigenous groups have re-occupied their territory without the state’s consent. As a result, the court decisions have provided people with a significant motivation to physically reclaim their land.

Silent Folks: A Modern Lore Preserving The Indigenous Folktales, Myths And Legends In The Digital Era

Innovations in second language teaching are desirable because such practices will help to maintain students’ interest and motivation in the classroom. Various research has reported the significance of incorporating stimulating reading texts in ESL classrooms. This paper aims to report how innovative ideas on using reading texts which are based on the tales of indigenous people in Malaysia can leave significant impact in an ESL classroom. This innovation project was in the form of a project work given to a group of 30 diploma students undergoing a proficiency class. Reading is one of the main components in the syllabus. One of the sub-components in reading for this subject is to read, understand, and provide personal responses to short stories. The students were asked to read a few ghost stories based on the lives of Semai people from a book entitled The Myths of Semai prior to their folktales project. The project required the students to retell the story in the form of animated videos. They made story boards to help dramatize the tales and then used video editing apps to compile the story boards into videos of the chosen folktales. They played the videos in class and uploaded them to YouTube for other ESL learners. At the end of the project, students were asked to write a reflective journal about their learning experiences with Semai folktales. The responses were analysed based on the emerging themes which occur in the students’ reflections. The findings on this innovative project should contribute to deeper understanding on how animating the folktales can impact ESL students’ learning and how using the stories from indigenous people can enhance cross-cultural awareness and acceptance of different traditions.

Effects of General Election-14 on the Social Well-Being of the People of Malay Race in Malaysia

The 14th General Election (GE-14) which was held on May 9, 2018, had surprising results that changed the political climate of the country. The alliance Pakatan Harapan, which adopts the PKR logo and includes the Parti Warisan Sabah, beat the Parti Barisan Nasional (BN) and won 122 seats in parliament. The remaining 79 parliamentary seats were won by BN, and the 18 seats gained by PAS, which opted to run unopposed, were won by BN. After the 14th General Election, disagreements arose about the Sultan's authority, the specific rights of the Malays, Islam's status as the Federation of Malaysia's official religion, and the Malay language's status as its official language. This change is particularly noticeable among journalists of Malay ancestry who have reported the issue to the police more frequently than before following the 14th GE. The social well-being of the Malay community is seen as being threatened by this issue. This article investigates the social well-being of the Malay community in the wake of the 14th GE. It employed both document analysis and interviews to collect data for a qualitative investigation. The data prior to and following the 14th GE were examined using comparative analysis. The study’s findings show that following the 14th General Election, the harmony between the Malay community and other race groups has encountered disruptions. This disruption stems from the actions of non-Malay individuals who frequently challenged the privileged status of Malays and engaged in derogatory remarks about the Sultan and the Islamic faith. As a result, any governing party must align with the sentiments of the Malay community and refrain from disregarding their emotions and the delicate subjects that concern them. This stance is crucial to ensure the security and enduring well-being of the Malay community, who are the indigenous people of Malaysia.

Examining the Demographic Factors Influencing Malaysians’ Attitudes Toward Cash Waqf

This research paper investigates Malaysians' attitudes toward cash waqf contributions based on Ahmad Tarusan's research. To supplement the scant previous literature in this area of research, a survey questionnaire was administered to Malaysians regardless of gender, age, racial background, or study field. The questionnaires were developed and digitally circulated using convenience sampling techniques. The samples consisted of 107 Malaysians, and the data was analyzed using SPSS. This study was represented by Malay women majoring in Islamic Studies who are under 30 years old. However, mean statistics showed otherwise; Malay males tend to have a positive attitude toward cash waqf. This study implied that anyone could contribute and enjoy the benefits of waqf regardless of gender, age, race, and educational background; therefore, future research in Malaysia is required to expand their study to reach respondents from non-Muslim communities and those who are from secular backgrounds in understanding their attitude toward cash waqf. It is predicted that if Malaysians are convinced of the benefits of cash waqf and have a favorable attitude, the government and regulators will find it much simpler to implement through policy interventions. The research's findings will further enrich the existing literature on attitudes toward cash waqf, especially for the unique waqf development in Malaysia. It is because cash waqf in Malaysia may have been operated differently from the one during the Prophetic era.

The Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma neo-japonicum (Agaricomycetes) Polysaccharide Extract Prevents Obesity-Induced Diabetes in C57BL/6J Mice

Ganoderma neo-japonicum Imazeki is a medicinal mushroom consumed by the indigenous people in Malaysia as a remedy for diabetes. This study aims to validate the efficacy of G. neo-japonicum polysaccharides (GNJP) on obesity-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in C57BL/6J mice. Mice were divided into seven groups; normal diet (ND)-control, high-fat-diet (HFD)-control, HFDGNJP-treated (50, 100, 200 mg/kg b.w.), HFDMET (metformin 50 mg/kg; positive-control) and ND-GNJP (200 mg/kg b.w.). Mice were administered GNJP or metformin orally for 10 weeks (thrice/week) and sacrificed after an oral glucose tolerance test. Body weight, serum biochemicals, liver histology, adipocyte gene expressions, glucose and insulin levels were measured. HFD caused obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes in the untreated groups. GNJP (50 mg/kg b.w.) supplementation prevented weight gain and liver steatosis, improved serum lipid profile and glucose tolerance and attenuated hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia more effectively when compared with the other treatment groups. The prevention of obesity and lipid dysregulation is plausibly attributed to the increased hormone-sensitive lipase and reduced Akt-1 and Ppary gene expressions while the up-regulation of AdipoQ (adiponectin), Prkag2 and Slc2a4 genes served to sensitize insulin and improve glucose uptake. Thus, supplementation with an appropriate dose of GNJP has promising efficacies in preventing HFD aka obesity-induced T2DM and associated metabolic abnormalities.

Well-being index of Indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia: an application of the multidimensional poverty index (MPI)

The Indigenous people of Malaysia are a heterogeneous community scattered over more than 852 villages in Peninsular Malaysia. This community has been identified as socioeconomically and culturally poor and marginalized in Peninsular Malaysia. Therefore, the study aims to examine the well-being and create well-being indices of the Indigenous people. This study employed Alkire and Foster’s multidimensional poverty index (MPI) to create the well-being indices by using primary data. The finding revealed that Indigenous people are likely to remain poor due to insufficient access to basic education and lack of employment opportunities. The well-being index showed that females are more deprived than males and Indigenous people living in rural areas are better off compared to those living in urban and sub-urban areas. The study suggests that there is a need to combat low education levels and the government should introduce a community-based education system and mobile health clinics for Indigenous people.

Održivost poslovanja malih i srednjih preduzeća zasnovanih na primeni interneta stvari industrije 4.0 - studija slučaja Malezijskog Bumiputera

Companies of all sizes, including Small and Medium Enterprises, have been left with few choices for preparing for and implementing changes. This research gathered information to provide the theoretical framework on the determinants that Malaysian Bumiputera SMEs are relying on for their decision to adopt or not to adopt IoT in their business operations. Bumiputera refers to the indigenous people of Malaysia. The study utilised a cross-disciplinary study design. The data was obtained from company proprietors in Malaysia that operate in the category of Bumiputera SMEs and was statistically analysed using IBM's SPSS and AMOS software. According to the initial findings, it can be seen that respondents are very excited about the benefits of IoT, but lack the imagination to pioneer the arrangement. Furthermore, even though respondents are unconcerned about IoT, it gives the appearance of being unsure, leading them to think further on whether to trust it or not. It was also shown that top organizations have an increasingly good intuition of IoT, but also a progressively negative intuition of it. It is recommended that SMEs holistically, especially Bumiputera SMEs, acquire more knowledge and be prepared to expand the grasp of productive factors of IoT in Malaysia.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES RELATED TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN MALAYSIA

Given that the way of life of indigenous peoples is usually associated with low living standards, the government has an important role to play in ensuring that the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous communities is narrowed. Unfortunately, as the program to improve the quality of life of indigenous communities has been widely implemented across the country, tension has begun to escalate among the indigenous community on the real motive of the program. Government policy objectives to assimilate indigenous communities into mainstream society leave little scope for indigenous groups to pursue their own life projects. Several studies have reported that the development of the government within traditional indigenous lands has caused conflict between the developer and the indigenous community. This situation has caused the indigenous people to bear the consequences of losing their traditional land, which is very important to reflect their identity. The aim of this paper is therefore to examine the current issues related to the land development initiative on the way of life of indigenous peoples in Malaysia. Documents search from published and unpublished material is used for this paper and a guide with a set of settings five years prior. The findings of this paper show that the development of the government in indigenous traditional lands has disrupted the traditional way of life, leading to multiple adverse effects on the community and the environment. In other words, the core of the indigenous people's struggle to this date is therefore concentrated in their involvement in making decisions in any development proposed to enhance their quality of life. Apart from that, the perspective of land development between the government and the indigenous peoples is quite different from one another. In conclusion, it is important to elicit knowledge and opinion from both indigenous peoples and government agencies to ensure the impact of land development activities can be minimized and implemented appropriately.

Crisis Communication Relief Management and Preparedness: Covid-19 Disease Outbreak for Indigenous Peoples in Malaysia

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global crisis that has impacted all aspects of humanity. As of August 16, 2021, Malaysia has seen significant increases in active cases. However, the condition of indigenous peoples remains a question mark and it is unknown what steps have been taken to address this group. Do they understand the prevalence of the COVID-19 outbreak and what strategies are being taken to prevent this outbreak among the Indigenous people? Although there is crisis or disaster management related stakeholders, yet the Crisis Communication Relief Management and Preparedness is vital especially for the Indigenous people because they are important group of mainstream society. Indigenous peoples are among the most vulnerable and at risk of COVID 19 pandemic. The discussion is augmented by Foucault's notion of power and governmentality, aspects related to decision-making about Crisis Communication Relief Management and Preparedness. The analysis of Foucault’s Power, knowledge and governmentality gives a clear understanding on how the government in regulating and shaping the Crisis Communication Relief Management and Preparedness to the specific groups such as the Indigenous people.

Vulnerability context and well-being factors of Indigenous community development: a study of Peninsular Malaysia

The Indigenous people of Malaysia are a heterogeneous community scattered over more than 852 villages in Peninsular Malaysia. This community has been identified to be among the poorest and marginalized in Peninsular Malaysia. This study evaluates the well-being factors as well as problems that hinder the development of an Indigenous community in Peninsular Malaysia. This article adopted a quantitative approach based on data collected through survey and 2,136 respondents were interviewed. The study reveals that the Indigenous community is likely to remain poor in terms of economic status significantly because of insufficient access to basic education and the inability of being employed. This is also due to the inability to receive support for housing, economic livelihood, and other social infrastructures. In addition, the study indicates that economic status and access to education are the most significant factors that may help improve the overall well-being of an Indigenous community. This finding also suggests that the social and environmental aspects in Peninsular Malaysia have not improved together with economic development.

THE PRESENCE AND INSINUATION OF SOCIAL CANCER AMONG SEA INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN MALAYSIA

Background and Purpose: Disturbances that hinder community development affect social capital. I refer to such disturbances as social cancer. This article aims at explaining the existence of social cancers, their typologies, and implications for Sea Indigenous People’s community development through economic activities.&#x0D; &#x0D; Methodology: This exploratory case study involved 12 Sea Indigenous People in Johor, Malaysia. Data obtained through interviews were analysed using a thematic approach.&#x0D; &#x0D; Findings: The findings revealed four types of social cancer in the community’s economic activities: 1) jealousy, 2) prejudice, 3) slander, and 4) defamation. Those social cancers had direct impacts on community development, specifically forming sabotage actions, negligence in using community capital, reducing community cohesiveness, causing a decline in the production of social innovation, and the existence of a hanging community and the death of the community.&#x0D; &#x0D; Contributions: This study calls for a self-realisation mechanism to be introduced to community members so that their capacity for social capital can be developed to overcome the social cancer.&#x0D; Keywords: Community development, self-realisation mechanism, social cancer, social capital.&#x0D; &#x0D; Cite as: Amir Zal, W. A. (2021). The presence and insinuation of social cancer among sea indigenous people in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(1), 73-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss1pp73-94

The upper respiratory tract microbiome of indigenous Orang Asli in north-eastern Peninsular Malaysia

Much microbiome research has focused on populations that are predominantly of European descent, and from narrow demographics that do not capture the socio-economic and lifestyle differences which impact human health. Here we examined the airway microbiomes of the Orang Asli, the indigenous peoples of Malaysia. A total of 130 participants were recruited from two sites in the north-eastern state of Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, the nasal microbiome was significantly more diverse in those aged 5–17 years compared to 50+ years (p = 0.023) and clustered by age (PERMANOVA analysis of the Bray–Curtis distance, p = 0.001). Hierarchical clustering of Bray–Curtis dissimilarity scores revealed six microbiome clusters. The largest cluster (n = 28; 35.4%) had a marked abundance of Corynebacterium. In the oral microbiomes Streptococcus, Neisseria and Haemophilus were dominant. Using conventional microbiology, high levels of Staphylococcus aureus carriage were observed, particularly in the 18–65 age group (n = 17/36; 47.2% 95% CI: 30.9–63.5). The highest carriage of pneumococci was in the <5 and 5 to 17 year olds, with 57.1% (4/7) and 49.2% (30/61), respectively. Sixteen pneumococcal serotypes were identified, the most common being the nonvaccine-type 23A (14.6%) and the vaccine-type 6B (9.8%). The prevalence of pneumococcal serotypes covered by pneumococcal conjugate vaccines support introduction into a Malaysian national immunisation schedule. In addition, the dominance of Corynebacterium in the airway microbiomes is intriguing given their role as a potentially protective commensal with respect to acute infection and respiratory health.

Autonomía indígena y coronavirus en Malasia

Esta nota de investigación busca exponer cómo la pandemia de Coronavirus de 2020 ha afectado a los Pueblos Indígenas de Malasia. Para ello se analiza cómo se han visto afectados los derechos económicos, sociales y políticos de los diferentes pueblos indígenas del país. Se presta especial atención a las relaciones entre pueblos indígenas y empresas extractivas durante el confinamiento y el des-confinamiento y se recogen experiencias previas de epidemias causadas por la degradación ambiental que han afectado singularmente a algunos pueblos indígenas de Malasia. Los hallazgos preliminares muestran que la pandemia, lejos de haber sido una oportunidad para el ejercicio de su autonomía ha supuesto una grave para sus derechos presentes y futuros.

Rickettsial agents from fleas infesting stray dogs and cats in rural and urban communities in Malaysia

Background: Rickettsial infections are rarely diagnosed in Malaysia, due to the lack of awareness and useful diagnostic tools in the clinical setting. Seroprevalence studies among the indigenous people of Malaysia have shown evidence of exposure to rickettsial infections; however, not much is known about the causative agents. More studies are necessary to generate the resources, including genetic information and pathogen isolates, for development of more effective diagnostics. Stray dogs and cats are commonly found in rural and urban areas in Malaysia. Fleas infesting these animals have shown to harbour rickettsial agents which could be transmitted to humans. This study aims to identify and isolate the rickettsial agents in fleas recovered from stray animals found in two study sites in Malaysia. Methods & Materials: The study sites include a rural community of indigenous people in Perak and a mixed residential-commercial area within Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. Fleas were recovered from stray animals near residences or shop-lots. Fleas were pooled according to species, gender and animal hosts, and were used for DNA extraction. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of rickettsial partial 16s rRNA gene sequence was performed to determine the presence of rickettsial DNA. For isolation, flea tissues were inoculated into tick cell cultures and monitored periodically for signs of cytopathic effects, and the presence of bacteria monitored by Giemsa-staining and PCR. Results: The fleas recovered were morphologically identified as Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides orientis. 47/54 flea pools (total individuals = 277) were tested positive in the PCR. The amplicon sequences were closely related to Rickettsia asembonensis (identity: 99–100%), a Rickettsia felis-like organism (RFLO). Sequences closely related to Bartonella clarridgeiae (identity: 98–100%) and Bartonella henselae (identity: 100%) were also detected. Attempts to isolate these bacteria in cell cultures are currently underway. On-going efforts include the whole genome sequencing of these flea-associated bacteria for further genetic characterization. Conclusion: These findings suggest that RFLO and Bartonella spp. are commonly present in fleas infesting stray dogs and cats in rural and urban communities in Malaysia. Further investigation is necessary to determine if the RFLO contribute to the rickettsial infections evidenced by past seroprevalence studies.

Molecular detection of pathogens from ectoparasites recovered from peri-domestic animals, and the first description of a Candidatus Midichloria sp. from Haemaphysalis wellingtoni from rural communities in Malaysia

Rural communities in Malaysia have been shown to be exposed to Coxiella, Borrelia and rickettsial infections in previous seroprevalence studies. Further research is necessary to identify the actual causative agents and the potential vectors of these infections. The arthropods parasitizing peri-domestic animals in these communities may serve as the vector in transmitting arthropod-borne and zoonotic agents to the humans. Molecular screening of bacterial and zoonotic pathogens from ticks and fleas collected from dogs, cats and chickens from six rural communities in Malaysia was undertaken. These communities were made up of mainly the indigenous people of Malaysia, known as the Orang Asli, as well as settlers in oil palm plantations. The presence of Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia, and rickettsial agents, including Rickettsia and Anaplasma, was investigated by performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis was detected in one out of eight pools of Ctenocephalides felis fleas. A relapsing fever group Borrelia sp. was identified from one of seven Haemaphysalis hystricis ticks tested. The results from the PCR screening for Anaplasma unexpectedly revealed the presence of Candidatus Midichloria sp., a potential tick endosymbiont, in two out of fourteen Haemaphysalis wellingtoni ticks tested. C. burnetii was not detected in any of the samples tested. The findings here provide evidence for the presence of potentially novel strains of rickettsial and borrelial agents in which their impact on public health risks among the rural communities in Malaysia merit further investigation. The detection of a potential endosymbiont of ticks also suggest that the presence of tick endosymbionts in the region is not fully explored.

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.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Education, human rights, international, Malaysia, Orang Asli.&#x0D; &#x0D; Cite as: Nordin, R., Hassan, M. S., Wong Rui Fern, V., Cherley, M., &amp; 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.vol5iss2pp365-383