KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4: RYTHM Foundation, the social arm for QI group, recently launched the Indigenous People’s Development Programme (INDEP), a community-led initiative for the Orang Asli communities, set for expansion nationwide.
An expansion of the Community Adoption Programme (CAP) the foundation has been running the last 3 years, INDEP was launched at its inaugural RIMBA Fest 2025 at Muzium Negara here on July 31st.
The festival was both a celebration of the Orang Asli communities, their unique forest products, as well as the various programmes carried out by the foundation to empower the community both socially and economically.
Speaking at the event, the foundation’s Chairperson Datin Seri Umayal Eswaran said the event offered a platform not only for the celebration of the rich culture and heritage of the Orang Asli, but also their voices and stories.
“We don’t believe in episodic aid. We are committed to long-term, community-led solutions that are grounded in dignity and designed with, not for, the Orang Asli,” she said.
In a statement issued at the event, the foundation also commended the government’s proposed amendments to the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954, the first in 71 years, expected to address land tenure, access to education and healthcare, economic opportunities, community leadership, basic infrastructure, and preservation of traditional culture.
“The introduction of INDEP at RIMBA Fest 2025 showcases how inclusive policy can translate into meaningful action. This programme’s objective aims to empower Orang Asli communities in Malaysia by fostering transformative leadership development, eco-enterprise ventures, and literacy initiatives that turn inclusive policy into tangible grassroots impact.”
Organised ahead of World Indigenous Day (August 9), the event saw the participation of several Orang Asli communities from various parts of the country including from Sabah.
The foundation said the assistance offered to the communities was more than in the traditional aid form and aimed at transforming them from recipients into co-creators of their own sustainable futures.
This was done through tailored, locally-led initiatives, for example, in education, economic resilience, youth and women leadership.
–WE