Indigenous community, social infrastructure and planned development in Malaysia: A study of community participation in the Air Banun resettlement scheme, Belum-Temengor, Perak

Community development requires some degree of infrastructural capacity. A complete basic social infrastructure provided in any community is a symbol of modernization, development and transformation in any community. The provision of social infrastructure in Malaysia has, in general, reached a commendable level since independence. However, there still exist local communities that have not benefited from adequate social infrastructure facilities. This study evaluated the social infrastructure needs of some Orang Asli communities in Malaysia. Primary data were gathered from a field survey of nine out of approximately 18 Orang Asli communities in the Air Banun resettlement area, Perak. The findings indicated that the provision of the social infrastructure in these areas were not satisfactory in comparison to that of other communities in the country. Given the current focus on developing the region as an ecotourism hub by the NCIA, it is timely that the authorities strengthened the much needed social infrastructure so that indigenous communities can engage themselves effectively and meaningfully in the planned development process.