Malaysia is home to diverse Indigenous communities, each rich in language, culture, and tradition. Yet for many Orang Asli and Orang Asal youths, life often means facing deep-rooted stereotypes, limited access to education, and few opportunities to succeed.
Beyond the textbook lessons and cultural snapshots are real stories of individuals who have fought for land, education, culture and dignity. Many were raised far from opportunity, often excluded from systems that were never built with them in mind.
A recent think tank report found that Indigenous voices are still largely missing from key decision-making spaces, including education policy-making itself[1].
Yet despite the odds, these changemakers are rising. They are doing it not just for themselves, but for their communities and the generations to come.
Here are seven Indigenous Malaysians whose stories deserve to be known and remembered.
#1: Tijah Yok Chopil – Founder of Sinui Pai Nanuk Sngik (SPNS)
Born of Semai descent, Tijah Yok Chopil has faced the hard truths of being an Orang Asli in Malaysia from as young as 8 years old. After losing her father at 12, she stepped into the role of caregiver, helping her mother raise her younger siblings. Despite leaving school early, she began teaching children in her village to read and write, eventually opening an evening kindergarten to close the learning gap[2].
Shaped by the struggles she endured as an Orang Asli woman facing discrimination, limited access to education and systemic exclusion, Tijah Yok Chopil went on to establish Sinui Pai Nanuk Sngik (SPNS) in 1995 when she was just 17 years old.
The name, which means “New Life, One Heart,” is to express her belief that solidarity among Orang Asli communities is key to protecting their future.
Under SPNS, Tijah launched the Pendidikan Celik Huruf Programme (PCHP), offering literacy and basic education to Orang Asli children across five villages, later supported by ECM Libra from 2009.
In March 2010, Tijah mobilised the largest peaceful Orang Asli protest in Malaysian history, drawing over 3,000 participants to Putrajaya. The protest was in response to a land policy passed by the National Land Council in December 2009, which ignored the customary land rights of the Orang Asli[3].
As the first Orang Asli woman to lead Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM or JOAS), after previously serving as its Deputy President, Tijah helped build and steer campaigns demanding legal reform.
Under her leadership, in July 2025, JKOASM coordinated a 17-point resolution calling for a halt to land approvals and reforms to the Orang Asli Act 1954, including the right to self-definition and fair participation in land governance[4].
The government must put a stop to development plans that are against the wishes of the orang asli. – Tijah Yok Chopil[4]
Tijah has long opposed government and corporate projects that threaten ancestral lands, including her stand against the proposed National Botany Park near Bidor in 2007. She and her Semai community resisted environmental encroachment, stressing its impact on health, livelihoods and cultural memory[5].
At a National Conference on Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge in 2001, she called out the exclusion of Orang Asli traditional healers from national health initiatives, emphasising the community’s deep ecological knowledge and their role in conservation and sustainable resource use[2].
Tijah is also a powerful storyteller. In recent years, she has used film and oral history to help her community. Tijah served as a mentor and screenwriter for four films under Apa Kata Wanita Orang Asli (AKWOA), using film as a tool to educate the public about Indigenous identity and the issues her community faces[3].
After many years, the young people who had been my students and the womenfolk became my strong allies. They helped me organise the community when there are land incursions or when we need to voice our demands to the government. – Tijah Yok Chopil[3]
In 2011, Tijah received the Fraser & Neave “Out‑Do Yourself” Award for her leadership in SPNS and tireless work empowering Orang Asli communities through education, legal training, land rights activism, and workshops[7].
Today, Tijah Yok Chopil continues to use her voice to speak up for the rights, land and future of the Orang Asli community.
#2: Ronnie Bahari – Capturing Indigenous Identity Through Photography
Ronnie Bahari, a Semai self-taught photographer from Kampung Sahom, Perak, uses the camera as a tool of empowerment. Tired of outsider portrayals of Orang Asli communities as “primitive” and OA feeling ashamed of their identity, he taught himself photography to change the narrative.
With his passion, he founded Persatuan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Orang Asli Perak (PKKOAP), which promotes Orang Asli heritage through photography, fashion and cultural programmes[8].
Not many are able to capture the true stories behind the people of my community, and the people who do, at times, portray us in a way that furthers inaccurate stereotypes about us. There’s also very little representation in the way we look. Seeing that, I made it my purpose to fight the stereotypes and give an accurate representation of my people. – Ronnie Bahari[9]
Through the organisation, Ronnie has actively promoted cultural pride and creative expression among Orang Asli youth, such as spearheading a traditional attire contest where over 2,700 Orang Asli youth from 15 out of 18 tribes participated[10].
The initiative helped reinvigorate Indigenous identity among young people, many of whom rediscovered traditional crafts and clothing pride through this competition.
As the organisers, we were pleasantly surprised to find the competition had spurred interest among Orang Asli youth who were reintroduced to many elements of their heritage and found the confidence to practise their traditions. – Ronnie Bahari[11]
Ronnie Bahari has steadily carved space for Indigenous voices in Malaysia’s art scene, serving as an inspiration for young Orang Asli who are starting to explore their creative expression. He’s collaborated with platforms like The Lain Lain Project and taken part in exhibitions such as Gerimis Art Project’s showcase of Orang Asli narratives[12, 13].
Ronnie’s work has also been exhibited internationally, where his documentary Karoog Kiha Nyep – Fragile and Disappearing, made it to the 59th Venice Biennale, putting Semai cave art and disappearing Indigenous heritage on the world stage[8].
#3: Amani Williams-Hunt Abdullah – Malaysia’s First Male Orang Asli Lawyer
Of Semai-Jahut and British-Temuan heritage, Amani, better known as Bah Tony, became the first Orang Asli male lawyer in Malaysia after being admitted to the Bar in 2010[14].
Amani has built a reputation fighting pro bono land rights cases and representing marginalised Indigenous communities. He also sits on the Orang Asli Rights Committee of the Malaysian Bar and serves on the National Advisory Council for Orang Asli Development[15].
Through both legal advocacy and public engagement, Amani has consistently spoken out against how Indigenous voices are often sidelined in policymaking.
There has been a lack of consultation with the Orang Asli when ministerial departments make decisions affecting them. Even when they do, it’s selective, and they do it with the headmen. However, the headmen don’t fully represent the voices of the community. Decision-making is a communal process for the Orang Asli. – Amani Williams-Hunt Abdullah[16]
In 2015, Amani helped the Semai community of Kampung Senta in Perak win a major land rights case. The High Court recognised 2,209 hectares as their customary land, saying they had native title rights under common law. The court also ruled that the state had failed in its duty to gazette the land as an Orang Asli reserve[17, 18].
Amani served as the solicitor-on-record, supported by a pro bono team from the Malaysian Bar’s Committee for Orang Asli Rights. It was the first time a Semai community had taken court action and won at that level.
In another pro bono case in 2012, Amani defended four Semai men who had shot a tiger to protect their village. They were eventually cleared of charges under the Wildlife Protection Act[15].
#4: Susherrie Suki – First Orang Asli To Graduate With First-Class Honours in London
A Semai student from Perak, Susherrie Suki, made history as the first Orang Asli to graduate from University College London (UCL) with First-Class Honours in Urban Planning and Real Estate[19].
I am honoured to be the first Orang Asli from the Semai tribe to step foot inside UCL and the first to graduate with a first-class honours degree. – Susherrie Suki[20]
It wasn’t an easy path. Leaving home for the first time, she faced language barriers and financial pressure in a foreign country. Determined to adapt, she enrolled in English classes and took part-time work to support herself[21].
Excelling in SPM with 10As and earning herself a Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) scholarship under the Young Talent Development Programme (YTP) to the United Kingdom, she has become a catalyst for the Orang Asli youth, especially girls, showing that world-class education is within reach for them.
I hope this could be an inspirational story for my community. – Susherrie Suki[20]
Now pursuing a Master’s in Urban Design and City Planning at UCL, Susherrie is driven by a mission to empower her community through inclusive design. Her passion for urban planning comes from seeing how Orang Asli voices are often excluded in development.
The main aim of me doing urban planning in the first place is just to create inclusive spaces and a place for people, not for profit. – Susherrie Suki[22]
Her dissertation explores how public spaces can empower and include Indigenous communities, ensuring they feel seen and safe in the places they live and move through.
I believe that this is the time when the Orang Asli community themselves need to step forward and make changes for their own community. Support is important, but taking matters into our own hands is always the best solution. – Susherrie Suki[22]
#5: Shaq Koyok – Painting Protest With Purpose
Shahar “Shaq” Koyok is a Temuan contemporary artist and activist from Banting, Selangor. As a child, he watched his ancestral forest vanish, a trauma he now channels into bold political art.
The memories remain fresh; back then in 1994, lorry loads of timber could be seen plying the route to the rainforests, and noisy sounds of sawn timber and excavators could be heard from our village. Forests, which are our place of shelter and sources of livelihood, have just disappeared into thin air. – Shaq Koyok[23]
Through striking visual art, Shaq has emerged as one of Malaysia’s most recognised Indigenous artists, using his work to spotlight environmental injustice and the lived realities of Orang Asli communities.
My paintings reflect my people and the rainforest in which I grew up, and to show the importance of nature to the Orang Asal. – Shaq Koyok[24]
At SK Bukit Lanjan, he created a mural featuring students in traditional dress to inspire pride and encourage education among Orang Asli children. His 2021 exhibition “Land of a Thousand Guilts” at Richard Koh Fine Art Gallery critiqued the destruction of Indigenous lands and the displacement of communities.[25, 26]
Shaq also played a key role in the fight to save the Kuala Langat forest reserve from clearing. The campaign brought communities together to protect Orang Asli land, and became a powerful example of how Indigenous voices can lead environmental action[27].
Now, Shaq’s work has been featured in over 40 exhibitions worldwide, including Melbourne, London, and Miami. His accolades include the Indigenous People Icon Award (2015), Merdeka Award Grant (2017) and the Eco-Business A List Award (2021)[28].
This June, Shaq was invited to join the prestigious Sustainability Research and Innovation Conference at the University of Illinois in Chicago[29].
#6: Maslah Rompado – President of Pertubuhan Wanita Orang Asal Malaysia (PWOAM)
From rural Pitas in Sabah, Dusun Tinagas advocate Maslah Rompado fights for the rights of Orang Asal women. Raised in a culture where women’s voices were often sidelined, she rose to lead the Pertubuhan Wanita Orang Asal Malaysia (PWOAM)[30].
Maslah works on gender-inclusive land policies, revives weaving traditions, and teaches women customary land mapping[31].
The participation of Indigenous women and girls is crucial for the country’s progress as it ensures that diverse perspectives, experiences, and knowledge are included in decision-making processes. – Maslah Rompado[30]
She recently became the first Orang Asal woman from Malaysia to present an oral statement at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in Geneva, a landmark moment for the community.
The delegation called for urgent reforms to protect Indigenous women’s rights, including a gender equality law, better access to education, land and healthcare, stronger representation in policy-making, and the ratification of ILO Convention 169 with full implementation of CEDAW recommendations[32].
It was the first time an Orang Asal delegation has been given a platform to present and advocate for the rights of indigenous women and children in Malaysia which was a “momentous moment” for the community. – Maslah Rompado, president of Pertubuhan Wanita Orang Asal Malaysia (PWOAM)[30]
The CEDAW Committee praised Malaysia for new gender laws, like tougher action against domestic violence and stalking, and welcomed reforms like the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 and better employment protections[33].
In response, the government announced a Post‑CEDAW Action Plan Committee to track and implement the Committee’s recommendations across 12 ministries. Civil society groups like SUHAKAM also noted how Indigenous women’s voices helped highlight key issues such as citizenship, native language use in schools, and equal rights under Malaysia’s dual legal systems[34, 35].
#7: Nia Vanessa Suhana – National Mountain Biker
Nia Vanessa Suhana, a Temuan-Semelai girl from Pahang, never imagined she’d become a national athlete. At 15, she was just the “water girl” tagging along to her friend’s mountain biking sessions, never expecting to compete herself[36].
That changed when the coach saw her potential.
Nobody thought I could do it, I used to be the weakest one in the team. It’s all thanks to my trainer and my friends that I have made it this far. – Nia Vanessa Suhana[36]
By the age of 17, Nia was already competing at international events across Southeast Asia, winning top three in competitions across the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Later, she won first place at the 2022 Enduro Bukit 300 Challenge 2022 in the Women’s Open category in Perak[37].
Nia is recognised by the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) as one of Malaysia’s successful Orang Asli athletes, alongside cricketers and sailors from Indigenous communities[38].
Nia dreams of opening a cycling centre in her village to encourage Orang Asli children to take up the sport, but she knows it won’t be easy.
She hopes it could be open to everyone, not just Orang Asli children, but the cost is a major challenge, especially since many Orang Asli families can’t afford bicycles.
If we could get sponsors, maybe more people could join and more athletes could be found. – Nia Vanessa Suhana[36]
In 2022, Nia Vanessa Suhana was in her final year at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), pursuing a degree in Sports Science while representing Malaysia as a national mountain biker.
Balancing rigorous training with academic responsibilities, she stood firm in her belief that being an athlete didn’t mean neglecting education.
I once lagged by a full month behind my classmates because of training and competitions. But my friends helped me catch up. Just because I’m an athlete doesn’t mean I neglect my classes. – Nia Vanessa Suhana[36]
Explore Our Sources:
- K. Arumugam & P. E. Joe. (2025). Orang Asli left out of education policymaking, says think tank. Free Malaysia Today. Link.
- J. Ong. (2010). A Semai woman overcomes all odds. The Star. Link.
- The Editor. (2012). The Edge Power List 2012. The Edge Malaysia. Link.
- The Editor. (2013). ‘Stop land approvals until report on native rights is out’. The Edge Malaysia. Link.
- B. Kuppusamy. (2007). MALAYSIA: Indigenous Groups Resist Biodiversity Park. Link.
- H. Maketab. (2024). Young Orang Asli women use short films and social media to voice out issues. The Star. Link.
- UNC Greensboro. (2011). Semai Woman Earns Prestigious Malaysian Award. Link.
- Wiki Impact. (2023). Ronnie Bahari: Orang Asli Activist Breaking Stereotypes Through Art and Photography. Link.
- K. Chang. (2025). Orang Asli Activist Fights Stereotypes Through Photography. Link.
- N. Chang. (2021). Get set for the big day, Tanding 3.0 is here!. Link.
- N. A. Khazizi. (2021). Traditional attire contest instils pride among Orang Asli youth. Malaysia Kini. Link.
- T. Ragu. (2024). ‘The Lain-Lain Project’: how Borneo’s cultural legacy found a voice in KL. Free Malaysia Today. Link.
- Penang Free Sheet. (2019). Gerimis: A Collaborative Orang Asli Art Exhibition, July 11th – 28th 2019. Link.
- H. Kabir. (2010). Bah Tony called to the Malaysian Bar. COAC. Link.
- Wikipedia. (2025). Amani Williams Hunt Abdullah. Link.
- N. Raja. (2025). Prioritise protecting Orang Asli land, livelihoods over development, says expert. Free Malaysia Today. Link.
- CN-COAC. (2015). The Semai of Kampung Senta win their land rights case. Link.
- CN-COAC. (2015). Kampung Kuala Senta is Ready for Court. Link.
- A. Leong. (2022). Semai Lass Is The First Orang Asli To Graduate With First-Class Honours In London. The Rakyat Post. Link.
- Z. Mat Arif (2022) Ipoh girl makes history as first Orang Asli to graduate with first-class honours from University College London. New Straits Times. Link.
- Bernama. (2022). Susherrie impikan bergelar perancang bandar profesional. MY Metro. Link.
- Ipoh Echo. (2023). Susherrie Suki Interview. Link.
- S. L. Wei. (2022). Shaq Koyok’s Artworks Capture The Orang Asli’s Struggle. Bernama. Link.
- The Vibes. (2022). Indigenous world views through artistic senses. Link.
- A. Lee. (2020). Shaq Koyok only paints Orang Asli subjects – with good reason. Malaysia Kini. Link.
- R. Koh. (2021). Shaq Koyok – Land of a Thousand Guilts. Link.
- R. Hicks. (2022). ‘Too many forests lost because Indigenous peoples have had to fight alone’: Malaysian activist Shaq Koyok. Link.
- E. Kosy. (2024). From victim to community hero: Asli artist becomes powerful voice for his community!. New Straits Time. Link.
- S. D. Shahrom. (2025). Shaq Koyok bawa seni Orang Asli ke pentas dunia. Media Selangor. Link.
- M. Teoh. (2024). Championing the rights of indigenous women and girls in Malaysia. The Star. Link.
- C. Will. (2025). Corak dan motif asli Masyarakat Dusun Tinagas dilancar secara rasminya. Borneo Daily. Link.
- KAMY Team. (2024). [Press Statement] Malaysia’s Independent CSO Delegation Participated at the 88th CEDAW Review in Geneva: Demonstrating Strength in Diversity. Medium. Link.
- The United Nations Office at Geneva. (2024). Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Malaysia on Legislation to Address Gender-Based Violence, Ask about Female Genital Mutilation and Citizenship. United Nations. Link.
- Malay Mail. (2024). UN convention on elimination of discrimination against women: Ministry to set up action plan committee this year, says Nancy. Link.
- SUHAKAM. (2024). Press Statement No. 6-2024_Malaysia Commits to Enhancing Gender Rights and Equality Under CEDAW. Link.
- N. Hasliza Mohd Salleh. (2022). From water girl to national mountain bike for young Orang Asli woman. Malaysia Now. Link.
- Wiki Impact. (2022). 8 Powerhouse Orang Asli Women Who Have Gone Against The Tide To Achieve Success. Link.
- Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (JAKOA). (2022). Sukan. Link.
