Aboriginal Peoples Act, 1954 (No. 134)

This Act makes provision with a view to protecting the aboriginal peoples who inhabit in West Malaysia. Such protection comprises different elements, and deals in particular with land occupancy and land tenure. Sections 5 establishes the Commissioner for Aboriginal Affairs, who shall be in charge of the enforcement and compliance with these provisions.Sections 6 and 7 refer to aboriginal areas and aboriginal reserves respectively. In particular, within such areas: (a) no land shall be declared a Malay reservation; (b) no land shall be declared a sanctuary or reserve intended for protecting wild animals and birds; (c) no land may be alienated, granted, leased or otherwise disposed of to persons who are not aborigines; (d) no licences for the gathering of forest products may be issued to persons other than aborigines. Section 8 regulates rights of occupancy of aborigines or aboriginal communities. On the other hand, aborigines cannot transfer or dispose of any land except with the prior consent of the Commissioner. Sections 11 provides for the compensation to be paid to aborigines in case of alienation of State lands upon which fruits or rubber trees are growing.