Exploring Rural Transformation in Malaysia: A Study of the Practice of Sustainable

Development Principles among Orang Asli Community in Royal Belum, Perak

Dr. Khairul Hisyam KamarudinUTM RAZAK SCHOOL of Engineering and Advanced Technology

Prof. Dr. Ibrahim NgahCentre for Innovative Planning and Development (CiPD), UTM

January 2014

Photo: revbickers.blogspot.com

Photo: Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Ngah of CiPD UTM conducted a field survey of Orang Asli at Royal Belum Forest Reserve

in Perak

Introduction – “rural transformation and diversification of rural activities”

There are series of concepts of rural transformation that emerged from the debates about the nature of change affecting rural people on communities in different world regions. Among them are post-productivist, de-agrarianization, the new rural development paradigm, new rurality etc. (Mackayet.al, 2009; Preston and Ngah, 2012; Bryceson, 1996; Gibson et.al, 2010; Kay, 2008).

Rural transformation in Malaysia reflects the multi-dimensional changes towards diversification of rural activities with the increase of the non-farm activities, and broadening of farm or land based activities, and the introduction of quality and local distinctive products (Ngah et al., 2013).

Understanding of the roles of non-farming activities (including the new forms of agriculture activities) are be crucial to inform policy makers on the new development that has taken place in the rural areas and the need for appropriate policies to address them (Ngah et al., 2013).

Rural Transformation

This proposal is one of sub topic in a bigger scope of rural transformation study

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

Sustainable Village AssessmentLocal Economic Development and Poverty Alleviation:Community based tourismOne Village One Product

The use of indicators

Roles of non-agriculture and new form of farming in rural livelihood

Sustainable rural development for less developed region

Introduction

In the declaration of the Conference on Environment and Development at Rio de Janeiro 1992, the role of indigenous people in the environmental management and development for achieving sustainability was because of their knowledge and traditional practices (Kamarudin, 2005).

A Study of the Practice of Sustainable Development Principles among Orang Asli Community in Royal Belum, Perak

Indigenous people and their communities and other local communities, have a vital role in environmental management and development because of their knowledge and traditional practices. States should recognize and duly support their identity, culture and interest and enable their effective participation in the achievement of sustainable development.

(Earth Summit, 1992: 13)

Introduction

Many studies had indicated the importance roles and contributions of indigenous knowledge and practices which in line with sustainable development principles (see Loomis, 2000, Pulido and Bocco, 2003, Kerjala and Dewhurst, 2003, Kamarudin and Ngah, 2007).

Introduction

However, the value and traditional practices of the indigenous communities today has gradually disappeared due to pressure from modernization and influence of laissez-fair economy, which penetrated them (Kamarudin, 2005; Kamarudin and Ngah, 2007).

This research intended to examine the extent to which sustainable development principles are practiced among Orang Asli community and how their local knowledge and practices could be used to formulate a framework for sustainable development strategies of the Orang Asli community.

Issues and Statement of Problem

Issues of development of Orang Asli (in Malaysia in general) and in Royal Belum in particular

Issues of indicators of sustainable rural development

Issues of implementation of indicators in measuring sustainability practices among Orang Asli community (field test process)

Problem Statement

As mentioned earlier, international bodies among other researchers have acknowledged that traditional values and (socio-economic) practices by Orang Asli are “sustainability-friendly”.

Government agencies (e.g. JAKOA) have heavily invested (either physically, human capital development, etc) in developing these underprivileged communities to empower them and to enable them to joint nation’s mainstream communities.

Despite huge investment and initiatives given by government, up to date, unfortunately, there is no measurement tool as to indicate or to measure/assess performance and changes received by the community.

Problem Statement

This is where the role and function of indicators become crucial, as a tool for measuring:

a. The ROI (return of investment) made government and other agencies Monetary and/or non monetary benefits, etc.

b. The level of sustainable development principles practices by the community from the four pillars of sustainability i.e. economic, socio-culture, organisational and leadership, and environmental.

1) What are the role and contributions of sustainability indicators in assessing/measuring the level of sustainability practices among Orang Asli community in the study area?

2) To what extent does the current practices contribute towards overall sustainable livelihood of the Orang Asli in the study area?

3) What are the factors that encourage and/or hinder sustainable development principles among Orang Asli community in the study area?

Research Questions

The main goal of this research is to analyse the practice of sustainable development principles among Orang Asli community based on existing set of indicators (developed after previous work).

A set of indicators will be used in a field test to determine whether the indicators selected can be applied and measured the community practices using the local stakeholders survey approach.

Research Goal

Data collection will be based on household surveys and field observation in selected village clusters in Royal Belum.

Three village clusters will be selected for the study including those of varying economic based and location such as fishing villages, conventional agriculture based villages, traditional agriculture based villages and mixed economic based villages (tourism based villages).

The phases of the study is as follows:

Research Methodology

Phase 1 Preliminary Study

This will include further review on literatures related to the previous study done elsewhere in South East Asia and other parts of developing world.

In the preliminary study basic information on the current status or profile of the five village clusters will be collected. We aspect basic data on population and households, list of economic activities, cultural practices and village organization will be available from the district office or other related agencies such as District Office, JAKOA, PTNP. From this basic data then we can design proper methods for field study.

Phase 2 Field study

Household surveys (Quantitative data)

socio-demographic data (age, gender, education, skills), ownership of property, migration, employment (full time and part-time, reasons for engaging in particular employment activities, and income of each members of the households (by each economic activities engaged).

a. The respondent’s perception about sustainable development practices (guided by the list of indicators, but must cover all four pillars i.e. economic, social/cultural, organisational and environmental practices)

Selection of samples will be according to three village clusters (estimated 60 samples of households for the three clusters, but actual size of the samples will be calculated later).

“Limited” participant observation and interviews (Qualitative data)

Phase 3 Analysis and findings

Data from Household survey Analysis will look into:

a. Discussions of the procedures in conducting the field test including the survey of local stakeholders.

b. Discussion of the data analysis and respondents’ evaluation of successful uptake of sustainable measures for sustainable development practices (the application of index score analysis.)

c. Presentation of data analysis results and discussion of the respondents evaluation of successful uptake of economic, socio-cultural, environment and organisational measures.

Activity Start Date End Date

1. Preliminary works, literature review and background of study area

2. Preparation of field works, Design of questionnaires and pilot study

3. Household /Stakeholders ‘ Surveys

4. Field Observation and “Limited” Participant Observation

5. Data analysis and interpretation

6. Report writing and papers for journal

Expected Outcomes Impact on Knowledge

We expect there are wide ranges of activities in (social, economy) and community’s interaction with their surrounding nature for their livelihood. Their interaction (symbiotic relations), in turn might impact to the local economy as community is depending on the natural resources as source of income and to sustain other types of local economic activities.

Community might indicate a positive level of sustainability practices for cultural and social values, while for economy and exploitation of resources practices need to be given more attentions as sustainable development required a balanced to be achieved between all the components.

The findings of this research will contribute to the current debates on the applicability and reliability of indicators in measuring the level of community sustainability.

Expected Outcomes

Publications

We targeted at least two publications on index journals. One in Singapore Journal of Tropical geography and another in Rural Studies or World Development which in the past did published many articles related to the topic.

Cluster: SUSTAINABILITY

ECOTOURISM

EcoTourism, Protected Areas and Poverty Alleviation: Perceptions and experiences of Orang Asli community in

Royal Belum State Park, Malaysia

PAS Grant (UTM) (RM20k)

Work in Progress