Impacts of Resettlements on Orang Asli Community

Abstract

Various studies on Orang Asli (indigenous people) of Malaysia found that the development and resettlements have benefited them while others found that there are many negative consequences to the socio-economy and socio-cultural of Orang Asli. The inundation of the land to create vast lakes had forced the government to resettle the Orang Asli into a new settlement in 1977, called Sungai Berua. This paper evaluates the impacts of this Orang Asli after 40 years of their resettlements. Findings show that the Orang Asli have improved their income through palm oil project managed by FELCRA but are still able to hunt and gather in the forests near the resettlement area.