Malaysia's PKR urged to nominate indigenous candidate for Senate president

The youth wing of Malaysia's ruling People's Justice Party (PKR) has called for the party to nominate an indigenous Orang Asli representative for the prestigious position of Senate president. The proposal, put forth by Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) exco Leo Arrey Romani, seeks to create a crucial platform for voicing indigenous interests at the national level.

Romani argued that the Senate, or Dewan Negara, offers a vital opportunity for the Orang Asli community, who often struggle to secure representation in the directly elected Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives). "The House of Representatives belongs to the majority. We Orang Asli will not win there, and the Constitution knows this," he stated during the AMK National Congress. "That is why there are 44 appointed seats in the Senate. And in those seats, the Constitution mentions our name, the interests of the Orang Asli."

He drew a parallel with the current political landscape, noting that the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has appointed an indigenous representative as Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat. "If UMNO can appoint an Orang Asal representative as Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, then PKR must be brave enough to appoint a Peninsular Orang Asal as Yang Dipertua Dewan Negara in the future," Romani urged.

Romani stressed that any nominee must genuinely understand the lives and struggles of the Orang Asli community, rather than merely fulfilling a quota. He pointed to existing indigenous representation, including the first Orang Asli Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat and senators appointed through state legislative assemblies, highlighting that such appointments have occurred under the current unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

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The House of Representatives belongs to the majority. We Orang Asli will not win there, and the Constitution knows this. That is why there are 44 appointed seats in the Senate. And in those seats, the Constitution mentions our name, the interests of the Orang Asli.