The Semang Orang Asli group in this country, should be protected and gazetted as national heritage as the group proven to be one of the world's oldest population of over 60,000 years old, is at risk of extinction, said Universiti Sains Malaysia, Biochemical Analysis Centre director Assoc Prof Dr Zafarina Zainuddin.
She said through a genetic study using multiple DNA markers, much older DNA were recovered from the Orang Asli of Bateq, Kensui and Lanoh tribes as compared with the aboriginal groups found in Australia and Irian Jaya.
"Based on the study, it was found that their genetic makeup differs from modern society, which cause them to be less adaptable to today's environment," she said.
According to her, medications consumed by modern society might not be suitable for the Orang Asli community and could poison them.
"Genetic testings performed to protect the body against a certain type of disease also result in loss of genetic variations among the Orang Asli which can make them vulnerable to the disease," she told Bernama after presenting a paper on ''Siapa itu Melayu'' at a Kedah Malay Congress event here recently.
She said the genetic research study led by UiTM Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute (iPromise) director, Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Zaki Salleh in collaboration with USM and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, involved a complete genome sequence of the Orang Asli.
"Once this population is gone, it is gone forever. As such this study was aimed not only at developing an Orang Asli DNA database for forensics and medical purposes but also to formulate better policies in protecting the community from threats of extinction.
According to the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) official website, Negrito/Semang Orang Asli consists of six tribes namely Kensiu, Kintak, Lanoh, Jahai, Mendriq and Bateq.
The Kensiu tribe, for example, comprises 204 people from 39 families who are mostly found in the outskirts of Baling, Kedah, while the Lanoh tribe comprising 359 people of three communal groups live in the interiors of Perak.
"Close monitoring and more stringent laws should be established to ensure the DNA of the Orang Asli people are not taken out by foreign researchers to avoid exploitation of this national heritage by outsiders," she said.
As the Orang Asli community is regarded as a very fragile population, Zafarina said the relevant authorities should adopt new approaches in ensuring their survival.
"With their inability to adapt to the environment, different methods must be applied and these measures must be taken immediately before they disappear as a people through modernisation," she said.
In fact she urged the government to reconsider giving the community contraceptive pills as a family planning measure and to look for other alternatives, in addressing the problem.
--BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu May 04 2017
![Orang Asli should be gazetted as national heritage Orang Asli should be gazetted as national heritage](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-12/41482423729_Jakun.jpg)
As the Orang Asli community is regarded as a very fragile population, Zafarina said the relevant authorities should adopt new approaches in ensuring their survival.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
Lebih 340,000 syarikat buat transaksi serah simpan maklumat pemunyaan benefisial
Sebanyak 340,637 syarikat telah membuat transaksi serah simpan maklumat pemunyaan benefisial (beneficial ownership) bagi tempoh 1 April hingga 14 Julai lepas.
Polis tunggu laporan makmal tentukan punca kematian Nur Farah Kartini
Polis sedang menunggu laporan makmal bagi menentukan punca kematian berhubung kes pembunuhan bekas penuntut Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah.
![Sampel air kegunaan Orang Asli Kampung Kuala Koh akan diuji Sampel air kegunaan Orang Asli Kampung Kuala Koh akan diuji](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-06/71560087645_TBZulpuriShah.jpg)
Sampel air kegunaan Orang Asli Kampung Kuala Koh akan diuji
KATSA akan menyiasat dakwaan penggunaan air tercemar menyebabkan Orang Asli di Kampung Kuala Koh, dijangkiti kuman pada saluran penafasan dan paru-paru.