Orang Asli Research Articles

Factors related with lung functions among Orang Asli in Tasik Chini, Malaysia: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundOrang Asli lifestyle and household setting may influence their health status especially respiratory system and lung functions. This cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate the status of lung functions of Orang Asli community and the associated factors.MethodsData collection was carried out from November 2017 until May 2018 among 211 Orang Asli respondents aged 18 years old and above, who lived in five villages in Tasik Chini, Pahang. All respondents who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited in this study. Interview-guided questionnaire was administered, and spirometry test that include Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) was carried out. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23.0. In the first stage, descriptive analysis was done to describe the characteristics of the respondents. In the second stage, bivariable analysis was carried out to compare proportions. Finally, multiple logistic regression was performed to assess the effects of various independent predictors on spirometry parameters.ResultsThe respondents’ age ranged from 18 to 71 years old in which 50.2% of them were female. The majority ethnicity in Tasik Chini was Jakun tribe (94.3%). More than half of the respondents (52.1%) were current smoker, 5.2% were ex-smoker and 41.7% were non-smoker. More than half of them (62.1%) used woodstove for cooking, compared to only 37.9% used cleaner fuel like Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a fuel for everyday cooking activity. The lung function parameters (FEV1 and FVC) were lower than the predictive value, whereas the ratio of Forced Expiratory Volume in one second and Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC) (%) and PEFR were within the predictive value. The FEV1 levels were significantly associated with age group (18–39 years old) (p = 0.002) and presence of woodstove in the house (p = 0.004). FVC levels were significantly associated with presence of woodstove in the house (p = 0.004), whereas there were no significant associations between all factors and FEV1/FVC levels.ConclusionsFEV1 levels were significantly associated with age group 18–39 years old, whereas FVC levels were significantly associated with the presence of woodstove in the house. Thus, environmental interventions such as replacing the use of woodstove with LPG, need to be carried out to prevent further worsening of respiratory health among Orang Asli who lived far from health facilities. Moreover, closer health monitoring is crucial especially among the younger and productive age group.

Double Burden of Malnutrition and Its Associated Factors in Urbanized Indigenous Peoples (Orang Asli) of Peninsular Malaysia

ABSTRACT Double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is a global public health concern. This study determined the prevalence of DBM and its associated factors among 451 indigenous households in an urbanized state of Malaysia. Mothers and children were measured for weight and height/length. Mothers were interviewed for socio-demographics and diets of mothers and children. Prevalence of DBM (overweight/obese mother and underweight/stunted child) was 28.8%. Food insecurity, maternal height (<150 cm) and energy intake (>recommendation), child’s age (≥24 months) and energy intake (<recommendation) were significantly associated with DBM. Prevention of DBM in indigenous population should consider strategies that aim to eradicate both poverty and malnutrition.

Psychological Resilience among Orang Asli Youths in Selangor during COVID-19 and Its Associated Factors.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has affected everyone and stress-related mental health issues affect young people more than other groups, including marginalised populations. As a result of this pandemic, society is being urged to examine indigenous psychological resilience, especially among Orang Asli (OA) communities in Malaysia. Hence, this study aims to identify factors associated with psychological resilience among OA youths of Kampung Orang Asli (KOA) in Gombak during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study comprising OA communities was conducted between January 2022 and September 2022 in the Gombak District, Selangor. A self-administered online questionnaire using Google Forms and a self-administered printed questionnaire was used to collect data from youths aged 18 years old-24 years old. The Malay version of Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale-25 (CD-RISC-25) was used to assess psychological resilience. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 28.0, and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the associated factors and their significance level. A total of 158 participants were involved in this study. The mean score for psychological resilience was estimated at 69.28 (SD = 14.52). The social relationships domain recorded the highest mean score for quality of life (71.54, SD = 13.72). Meanwhile, the total mean score for self-esteem fell into the high-level category (35.77, SD = 4.94), and the domain of relationship and family dynamics under family environment scored the highest mean score of 18.83 (SD = 2.89). Psychological resilience was associated with youths of KOA Batu 12 (β = -14.274, P < 0.05), KOA Ulu Batu (β = -17.789, P < 0.05), less than four siblings (β = -6.495, P < 0.05), owner of residential property (β = -7.543, P < 0.05), high self-esteem (β = 0.612, P < 0.05) and good relationship and family dynamic (β = 1.391, P < 0.05). Developing interventions aimed at psychological resilience determinants may assist OA youths in coping with future threats.

The Impact of Malaysia’s Feeding Program on Orang Asli Families

This study examines the impact of feeding programmes on indigenous households in Malaysia, focusing on nutritional, economic and educational outcomes. Historically dependent on traditional agriculture and gathering, indigenous people in Malaysia face significant socio-economic challenges exacerbated by modernisation and urbanisation. School and community feeding programmes have been implemented by the government in partnership with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with the aim of addressing these challenges by improving access to nutritious food. This study assessed the effectiveness of these programmes through a narrative review and quantitative analysis of survey data from 96 Orang Asli. The results showed significant improvements in health and nutritional status In addition economic benefits were noted, with the feeding programmes reducing household food expenditures and indirectly increasing work efficiency and economic stability. However, the impact on emotional and mental health, while positive, was less pronounced and requires further investigation. This study highlights the importance of continued support and strengthening of the feeding programme and suggests integrated policy measures for the socio-economic development of the Orang Asli community.

Reconciling Past Compromises: Towards a More Equitable Future for Orang Asli in Malaysia

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the present generation has more ability to shape the future than every previous generation in modern times. Intergenerational justice in general means meeting the current needs without jeopardising future generations; all generations are eligible to a healthy, balanced environment favourable to human progress and the State has fiduciary obligation to use and manage resources efficiently and further promotes balance and sound environmental policy. The synergy between its citizen and State create relationship known as “social contract”, but the word “social contract” has a very diverse and unique connotation in Malaysia. The “social contract” referred to the difficulties and intricate compromises reached between major ethnics in Malaysia regarding their mutual rights and privileges, since independence of Malaysia. The Aboriginal in Malaysia is also known as Orang Asli, their communities frequently associated with negative connotation and sometimes less fortunate when compared to other main ethnics in Malaysia. Over the time government regimes change guard but developments of reasonable policies and other actions that promotes intergenerational justice and sustainable development goal towards Orang Asli seem slow in progress. This paper aims to highlight the issues of plight among Orang Asli in Malaysia as they are the minorities within minority communities. In contrast to empirical research, doctrinal approach which is library-based focusing on reading and analysis of the primary and secondary materials will be applied throughout this study. It is the contention of this paper to promote better wellbeing of Orang Asli communities as part of Malaysia nation building.

Equal Opportunities in Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship: Challenges in Malaysia

Summary Malaysia’s rural demography is multi-racial, with a blend of indigenous sub-groups. To advance the socio-economic status of rural communities, the government introduced various incentives and protectionist policies, including targeted measures in tourism development. As rural Malaysia is predominantly home to the Malays, the indigenous Orang Asli and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak, these policies are consistent with the government’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard these groups’ welfare. Notwithstanding the equal opportunity premise of the tourism policies, the government’s initiatives to advance rural tourism entrepreneurship arguably benefit some groups more than others. In West Malaysia, this is due to the indigenous Orang Asli’s lack of entrepreneurial readiness, which means that they are less able to capitalize on these opportunities. Consequently, the Malay entrepreneurs reap the benefits of protectionist policies and government aid, while the Orang Asli lag behind in tourism participation. This is arguably the outcome of a broad-brush approach in capacity building, with limited differentiation between the rural communities. Information © The Author 2024

Functional characterization of helminth-associated Clostridiales reveals covariates of Treg differentiation

BackgroundParasitic helminths influence the composition of the gut microbiome. However, the microbiomes of individuals living in helminth-endemic regions are understudied. The Orang Asli, an indigenous population in Malaysia with high burdens of the helminth Trichuris trichiura, display microbiotas enriched in Clostridiales, an order of spore-forming obligate anaerobes with immunogenic properties. We previously isolated novel Clostridiales that were enriched in these individuals and found that a subset promoted the Trichuris life cycle. In this study, we aimed to further characterize the functional properties of these bacteria.ResultsClostridiales isolates were profiled for their ability to perform 57 enzymatic reactions and produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and hydrogen sulfide, revealing that these bacteria were capable of a range of activities associated with metabolism and host response. Consistent with this finding, monocolonization of mice with individual isolates identified bacteria that were potent inducers of regulatory T-cell (Treg) differentiation in the colon. Comparisons between variables revealed by these studies identified enzymatic properties correlated with Treg induction and Trichuris egg hatching.ConclusionWe identified Clostridiales species that are sufficient to induce high levels of Tregs. We also identified a set of metabolic activities linked with Treg differentiation and Trichuris egg hatching mediated by these newly isolated bacteria. Altogether, this study provides functional insights into the microbiotas of individuals residing in a helminth-endemic region.-EyM7p7tfAvrAjtAePB85JVideo

Interactive AR Textbook Application for 3M Orang Asli Students in Primary School

The impact of technological advancement on the education system, particularly the need for innovation in its use in teaching and learning, is significant. However, the disclosure of a previous study found that a total of 269,332 primary school students across the country were not able to master the basic 3M skills of reading, counting, and writing. Therefore, this study aims to develop an Interactive AR textbook to learn the vowels a, e, è, i, o, and u. Evaluation of the effectiveness of using Interactive AR Textbooks, especially from the design point of view and to user experience and cognitive style in the context of Orang Asli education in the State of Perak. This study uses design-based research (DBR) as design research, which is divided into four phases: Phase I (analysis), Phase II (development), Phase III (evaluation), and Phase IV (documentation). Six experts were selected to verify the application. It was tested for usability and student performance on 62 first-year students among Orang Asli students in the State of Perak. The results revealed that the Interactive AR Textbook can be used to learn vowels a, e, è, i, o, and u based on expert agreement in terms of usability (99%), ease of use (98%), ease of learning (96%), and motivation (100%). Results show that Interactive AR Textbooks can increase motivation for learning Malay vowels, making them beneficial for grade 1 students, teachers, and schools. This application enables the creation of a realistic, authentic, engaging, and entertaining learning environment. This study also acknowledges the limitations and future recommendations of this study.

Syncretic Narratives: Ethnic Diversity and Identity Politics in Post-Colonial Malaysia

The account of post-colonial Malaysia is indeed an intricate one, the relationship between the ethnic bunch and identity politics is both dynamic and complicated, creating a syncretic narrative with nuanced understanding of human culture. Delving into the many layers of Malaysia's socio-political landscape to examine the subtle linkages between ethnicity, culture, and power relations. A mosaic of nationalities, each adding to the rich fabric of the country's cultural past. Malaysia is an amalgamation of many customs, dialects, and beliefs, ranging from the Indigenous Orang Asli to the Malay majority, as well as the Chinese diaspora and India. However, underneath the facade of diversity is a crucible of identity politics, where historical grudges and power imbalances collide with current socio-economic realities. The legacy of British Colonialism with its divide and rule strategy, may still be felt in Malaysia's socio-political environment, impacting notions of race and identity today. While attempts to construct a national identity have been made, they frequently collide with notions of ethnic dominance and marginalization, exacerbating tensions and divides within Malaysian society. The quest for a unified national identity is loaded with difficulties, as Malaysia grapples with the complexity of its heterogeneous background while under the constraints of globalization and modernity. Despite the obstructions, there are moments of optimism and resilience as Malaysians traverse the contours of their hybrid identity, gaining strength from the variety that distinguishes their country. Through debate, openness, and a commitment to social justice, Malaysia has the opportunity to break free from identity politics and embrace a more inclusive and equitable future.

Ethnoprimatology reveals new extended distribution of critically endangered banded langur Presbytis femoralis (Martin, 1838) in Pahang, Malaysia: Insights from indigenous traditional knowledge and molecular analysis.

The banded langur (Presbytis femoralis) is a critically endangered primate, which within Malaysia has not been known to extend significantly outside the state of Johor. Traditionally, distribution studies on this highly threatened primate have relied on conventional methods such as DNA identification, live counting, and camera trapping. However, ethnoprimatology offers an alternative approach to data collection, involving the active participation of indigenous and local communities possessing valuable knowledge and experience with local primate species. This study employed an integrated approach incorporating ethnoprimatology by utilizing pooled local expert opinion, local surveys, interviews, and fecal DNA analysis, resulting in a novel distribution range for the banded langur. The combination of expert opinions revealed this species' most optimistic distribution scenario across Johor and Pahang, inhabiting various ecosystems, including lowland forests, peat swamps, and human-modified landscapes. Further interviews and surveys conducted within the Orang Asli community in Tasik Chini and Tasek Bera have provided additional support for the revised distribution, documenting occurrences of banded langur utilization in indigenous practices, such as food consumption, cultural beliefs, medicinal applications, and craftsmanship. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated genetic differentiation between populations in Johor and Pahang, with the populations in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia likely serving as ancestral sources for other populations. Consequently, this study not only elucidated the updated distribution of banded langur through DNA records and direct observations but also established the efficacy of ethnoprimatology as a precursory tool for uncovering the present distribution patterns of other primate species in Malaysia.

MALAYSIA’S INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY IN THE MEDIA: DECONSTRUCTING THE RHETORIC OF OTHERING IN DISCOURSE

Media possess the ultimate power to shape cognition of the society and plays a fundamental role in the (re)production of elements of biasness and discrimination in contemporary society. In the field of ethnic affair, the news media become the most important source of access to information concerning the indigenous community. In this context, the study aims to unravel the projection of Malaysian indigenous community; the Orang Asli in a selected news media through the application of van Dijk’s Theory of Semantic Macrostructure. Attention is paid to the deployment of rhetorical structures and how these structures scrutinised in structuring and shaping the minds of the general public concerning the Orang Asli community. Findings reveal the hidden ideology beneath the tactical use of rhetorical structures whereby the dominant and the elites are shown to be maintaining their power while the Orang Asli community are contrasted with perpetuated stereotypes and prejudice in various degrees. The study concludes that the community is commonly viewed through unconstructive themes such as being dependant and traditional, and this study strongly opposes the blatancy of media while at the same time, calls for a more neutral and subtle representation of the community.

Malaysia’s Orang Asli Women Roles in Indigenous Community

Globally, there are still many occurring social issues that may be a hindrance towards the achievement of the overall development of a nation, and one of them is gender equality. Although it is a social issue that can affect the society, gender equality however affects women more than men as it can put women at a more disadvantaged situations such as limited access towards good health and education, lower financial status, lower employment opportunities, and more. Gender equality should be properly addressed to ensure that women can enjoy the opportunities and rights that they deserved as part of the members of the society. In this study, we investigated the Orang Asli women roles from a selected tribes in Malaysia. The purpose of this study is to explore how Orang Asli women contribute to the preservation of the indigenous community's culture, language, and beliefs. This study employed a qualitative case study research design. To obtain data, a semi-structured interviewing tool was used. We collected and analysed data from Orang Asli women as participants of the study. The study's findings demonstrated that the Orang Asli women had meaningful roles in their community. The study's conclusions are designed to provide insight into how indigenous women can carry out their responsibilities in promoting gender equality and sustainable development in the indigenous community.

Respiratory carriage of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae by indigenous populations of Malaysia

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae that is classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a Priority One ESKAPE pathogen. South and Southeast Asian countries are regions where both healthcare associated infections (HAI) and community acquired infections (CAI) due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKp) are of concern. As K. pneumoniae can also exist as a harmless commensal, the spread of resistance genotypes requires epidemiological vigilance. However there has been no significant study of carriage isolates from healthy individuals, particularly in Southeast Asia, and specially Malaysia. Here we describe the genomic analysis of respiratory isolates of K. pneumoniae obtained from Orang Ulu and Orang Asli communities in Malaysian Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia respectively. The majority of isolates were K. pneumoniae species complex (KpSC) 1 K. pneumoniae (n = 53, 89.8%). Four Klebsiella variicola subsp. variicola (KpSC3) and two Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. similipneumoniae (KpSC4) were also found. It was discovered that 30.2% (n = 16) of the KpSC1 isolates were ST23, 11.3% (n = 6) were of ST65, 7.5% (n = 4) were ST13, and 13.2% (n = 7) were ST86. Only eight of the KpSC1 isolates encoded ESBL, but importantly not carbapenemase. Thirteen of the KpSC1 isolates carried yersiniabactin, colibactin and aerobactin, all of which harboured the rmpADC locus and are therefore characterised as hypervirulent. Co-carriage of multiple strains was minimal. In conclusion, most isolates were KpSC1, ST23, one of the most common sequence types and previously found in cases of K. pneumoniae infection. A proportion were hypervirulent (hvKp) however antibiotic resistance was low.

Hematological Profile of Hb Adana Among High School Students in Northeast Peninsular Malaysia.

Background Hb Adana is a non-deletional alpha (α)-thalassaemia variant resulting from mutations in α1- or α2-globin codon 59 (αCD59), leading to the production of unstable α-globin. Clinical manifestations can vary from silent carrier status to dependence on blood transfusions, hepatosplenomegaly, skeletal deformities, and spinal cord compression. Despite the significance of Hb Adana inheritance, studying this variant poses challenges due to the scarcity of molecular tests and the potential for routine diagnoses to be overlooked. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of Hb Adana among local high school students and assess the hematological parameters and hemoglobin analysis of Hb Adana in Malaysia. Methodology This retrospective study analyzed 13,721 blood samples collected from high school students participating in Malaysia's National Thalassaemia Screening Program at Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZ II). Deletional α-thalassaemia was detected using multiplex gap-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while common non-deletional α-thalassaemia was identified using multiplex amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) PCR. Data were extracted from the HRPZ II database for analysis. Results Among the participants, 2327 individuals were found to have either common deletional (n=1037, 44.6%) or non-deletional (n=1290, 55.4%) α-thalassaemia. Hb Constant Spring was the most prevalent non-deletional α-thalassaemia, accounting for 53.03% of cases. Thirty-one participants (1.33%) exhibited αCD59α/αα, and one (0.04%) had αCD59α/-α3.7. Among the 32 subjects with Hb Adana, 87.5% were Malay, and 12.5% were Orang Asli. Additionally, seven cases of HbE/Hb Adana co-inheritance were identified. Hemoglobin levels in heterozygous Hb Adana individuals ranged from mild anemia to normal, between 95 g/L and 153 g/L. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were approximately 73 fL and 23 pg, respectively. Conclusion This study delineates the distribution ofα-thalassaemia mutation patterns among high school students in Kelantan, Northeast Peninsular Malaysia. Our findings indicate that Hb Adana is rare in our region and co-inheritance with an α-gene deletion results in α+-thalassaemia and with HbE, α0-thalassaemia. All heterozygous Hb Adana individuals exhibited low MCVs and MCHs.

Identification of Damaging and Deleterious Non-Synonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (nsSNPs) in the Orang Asli, Jakun

The study of genetics and its relation to different disorders has recently been getting remarkable attention worldwide. Non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) are coding variants that introduce amino acid alterations to proteins. Since nsSNPs have various effects on protein structure and function, these changes can significantly impact human health. The primary purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between diseases and Jakun nsSNP mutations. A total of 10 samples with 24,604 nsSNPs were used in the study. Several in silico bioinformatics tools were used to classify the high-risk nsSNPs that might affect the structure and function of proteins in the Jakun tribe. The in silico tools PROVEAN, SIFT and PolyPhen2 identified 1395 high-risk nsSNPs. Further analysis with the DAVID annotation tool revealed that these related genes are associated with cardiovascular diseases, myocardial infarction, Alzheimer's and obesity. Other bioinformatics tools were then used to infer the protein structures of these high-risk nsSNPs. From SNP&amp;GO and PhD-SNPs, the results conclude that there are four damaging nsSNPs in the Jakun tribe. The damaging nsSNPs and the mutation positions are MTHFR (A222V), ESR2 (G445S), ACSM3 (G460R) and UGT3A1 with two mutation sites, C121G and C67G. This study using in silico tools can be the basis for increasing medical discoveries, reducing lab costs and helping with clinical trials for further studies by providing genetically related information.

PENGARUH PERSEKITARAN RUMAH, PENGLIBATAN IBU BAPA, DAN KEPUASAN MURID DALAM PENCAPAIAN AKADEMIK MATA PELAJARAN SEJARAH

This study aims to examine the influence of the home environment, parental involvement, and student satisfaction on academic achievement in History subjects among Orang Asli Pantai students in Malaysia. Involving 63 respondents from two schools in the Batu Pahat area, this study used a quantitative methodology by collecting data through probe questions. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 26. The results of the study show the level of availability of a simple home environment, with variations in completeness and environmental conditions that facilitate review sessions. Parents' involvement in their children's learning shows a modest level, with strong support in providing facilities and encouragement, but less so in aspects of reviewing exercise books and attending school Open Days. The level of student satisfaction with parents, teachers and the school environment is high, but regression analysis shows an insignificant relationship between this level of satisfaction and academic achievement in the History subject. These findings emphasize the need for a more holistic approach in understanding the factors that influence student academic success, especially in the context of Indigenous and minority education. This study provides insight into the complexity of the relationship between environmental factors, family support, and educational satisfaction on academic achievement, and suggests the importance of comprehensive and layered interventions to improve the academic achievement of Orang Asli Pantai students in History subjects. In conclusion, this study shows that despite the influence of home environment availability, parental involvement, and student satisfaction, these relationships vary in strength and significance, indicating the need for a more inclusive and holistic approach to education.

Healing Power: Traditional Herb Remedies of the Orang Asli Temiar in RPS Kuala Betis

Healing Power: Traditional Herb Remedies of the Orang Asli Temiar in RPS Kuala Betis

Countering durian plantationocene visuality and the erasure of natureculture histories in Malaysia

ABSTRACT Large-scale durian plantations are now a major threat, causing deforestation and displacing the Orang Asli, the aboriginal peoples of Peninsular Malaysia, from their customary lands. This paper focuses on visual representations of the durian plantations and/or forest to discuss two contrasting views of the landscape. We analyse durian plantation corporate investment videos wooing public investors and videos of the Temiar Orang Asli’s resistance against forced evacuations by the durian companies in Gua Musang, Kelantan. The landscape presented in the corporate video is one that silently but violently erases the Indigenous Peoples of the land and their natureculture histories through high modernist ideology and aesthetics. Counterposing the corporate plantationocene visuals against the raw footage from the amateur videos shot on mobile phones, the Orang Asli galvanize emotionally moving countervisuality as witness to their resistance against the violence enacted by corporate occupation. By doing so, they are actively using visual documentation to tell their side of the story and to demand justice. Drawing from posthumanism, environmental humanities and critical visual studies, this paper presents a decolonial critique of the modernist/developmentalist discourse and highlights the violence of the erasure of natureculture in an extractive economy.

Maternal height, and ethnicity and birth weight: A retrospective cohort study of uncomplicated term vaginal deliveries in Malaysia.

Small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) are designations given to neonates based solely on birthweight, with no distinction made for maternal height. However, there is a possibility that maternal height is significantly correlated with neonatal birthweight, and if so, SGA and LGA cutoffs specific to maternal height may be a more precise and useful tool for clinicians. To explore this possibility, we analyzed the association between maternal height and ethnicity and neonate birthweight in women with low-risk, 37- to 40-week gestation, singleton pregnancies who gave birth vaginally between 2010 and 2017 (n = 354,488). For this retrospective cohort study, we used electronic obstetric records obtained from the National Obstetrics Registry in Malaysia. National Obstetric Registry (NOR) data were used to calculate the 10th and 90th birthweight percentiles for each maternal height group by gestational age and neonatal sex. Multiple linear regression models, adjusted for maternal age, weight, parity, gestational age, and neonatal sex, were used to examine the association between neonate birthweight and maternal ethnicity and height. The following main outcome measures were assessed: small for gestational age (<10th percentile), large for gestational age (>90th percentile), and birthweight. The median height was 155 cm (IQR, 152-159), with mothers of Chinese descent being the tallest (median (IQR): 158 cm (154-162)) and mothers of Orang Asli (Indigenous) descent the shortest (median (IQR): 151 cm (147-155)). The median birthweight was 3000 g (IQR, 2740-3250), with mothers of Malay and Chinese ethnicity and Others having, on average, the heaviest babies, followed by other Bumiputeras (indigenous) mothers, mothers of Indian ethnicity, and lastly, mothers of Orang Asli ethnicity. For infants, maternal age, height, weight, parity, male sex, and gestational age were positively associated with birthweight. Maternal height had a positive association with neonate birthweight (B = 7.08, 95% CI: 6.85-7.31). For ethnicity, compared with neonates of Malay ethnicity, neonates of Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli, and other Bumiputera ethnicities had lower birthweights. Birthweight increases with maternal height among Malaysians of all ethnicities. SGA and LGA cutoffs specific to maternal height may be useful to guide pregnancy management.

An Indigenous view of social justice leadership in the Malaysian education system

Social justice leadership is a method of building greater inclusivity in a variety of fields, education being prominent among them. This article considers how social justice leadership can improve educational opportunities for Orang Asli (the original people; the Indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia). It explores the concepts of social justice and social justice leadership, arguing that they are useful, but in focusing on the relationship between the individual and the collective, they do not always fully appreciate the epistemological bases of the concepts, thus missing their true import for Orang Asli people. Practical examples of how Orang Asli people suffer in educational settings are given, the emphasis being on underachievement and bullying. Finally, the strands are tied together with a discussion of how social justice leadership can be of benefit, the onus being on how social justice leaders need to be cognisant of Orang Asli culture and forms of knowledge before serious progress can be made.