Orang Asli should be gazetted as national heritage

The Semang Orang Asli group in this country, should be protected and gazetted as national heritage as the group proven to be one of the world's oldest population of over 60,000 years old, is at risk of extinction, said Universiti Sains Malaysia, Biochemical Analysis Centre director Assoc Prof Dr Zafarina Zainuddin.

She said through a genetic study using multiple DNA markers, much older DNA were recovered from the Orang Asli of Bateq, Kensui and Lanoh tribes as compared with the aboriginal groups found in Australia and Irian Jaya.

"Based on the study, it was found that their genetic makeup differs from modern society, which cause them to be less adaptable to today's environment," she said.

According to her, medications consumed by modern society might not be suitable for the Orang Asli community and could poison them.

"Genetic testings performed to protect the body against a certain type of disease also result in loss of genetic variations among the Orang Asli which can make them vulnerable to the disease," she told Bernama after presenting a paper on ''Siapa itu Melayu'' at a Kedah Malay Congress event here recently.

She said the genetic research study led by UiTM Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute (iPromise) director, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Zaki Salleh in collaboration with USM and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, involved a complete genome sequence of the Orang Asli.

"Once this population is gone, it is gone forever. As such this study was aimed not only at developing an Orang Asli DNA database for forensics and medical purposes but also to formulate better policies in protecting the community from threats of extinction.

According to the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) official website, Negrito/Semang Orang Asli consists of six tribes namely Kensiu, Kintak, Lanoh, Jahai, Mendriq and Bateq.

The Kensiu tribe, for example, comprises 204 people from 39 families who are mostly found in the outskirts of Baling, Kedah, while the Lanoh tribe comprising 359 people of three communal groups live in the interiors of Perak.

"Close monitoring and more stringent laws should be established to ensure the DNA of the Orang Asli people are not taken out by foreign researchers to avoid exploitation of this national heritage by outsiders," she said.

As the Orang Asli community is regarded as a very fragile population, Zafarina said the relevant authorities should adopt new approaches in ensuring their survival.

"With their inability to adapt to the environment, different methods must be applied and these measures must be taken immediately before they disappear as a people through modernisation," she said.

In fact she urged the government to reconsider giving the community contraceptive pills as a family planning measure and to look for other alternatives, in addressing the problem.

--BERNAMA