NRD faces uphill battle documenting unregistered Orang Asli population

GUA MUSANG — The National Registration Department (NRD) is grappling with significant challenges in determining the exact number of Orang Asli individuals without proper identification documents, a situation that has created substantial obstacles in service delivery and administrative oversight.

The absence of reliable data on unregistered indigenous persons has emerged as a critical issue affecting efforts to extend government services, healthcare access, and social protection schemes to vulnerable communities. Without accurate registration figures, authorities struggle to plan and implement targeted programmes effectively, while affected individuals remain caught in a bureaucratic void that leaves them unable to access essential services.

The NRD's difficulties stem from multiple factors, including the geographical remoteness of many Orang Asli settlements, limited accessibility to registration centres, and historical gaps in documentation efforts. Many indigenous communities, particularly in states like Pahang where Gua Musang is located, face considerable barriers to formalising their legal status through conventional registration channels.

Addressing the registration gap requires coordinated efforts between government agencies and community organisations to conduct field-based registration drives and simplify documentation processes for indigenous populations. Officials acknowledge that without resolving the data collection challenge, efforts to improve welfare provision and ensure equal access to state services for Orang Asli will remain hampered.