The Aboriginal Peoples Association of Peninsular Malaysia (POASM) is a legally registered non-governmental organisation under the Societies Act 1966 with registration number PPM-001-10-08091977, officially established on 9 August 1977. POASM is currently led by YBhg. Dato’ Ajis bin Sitin, who is serving his leadership term from 2025 to 2028, a highly respected Semai leader with extensive experience in public service and Indigenous affairs. His past leadership roles include Director-General of the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), Senator representing the State of Pahang, and senior positions within the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia. His rich professional background offers strategic leadership and vision to POASM, enabling it to grow as a relevant, progressive and effective organisation.
POASM was founded with the mission to protect the rights and promote the wellbeing of the Orang Asli community. Over the decades, it has served as a unified voice for the Orang Asli people across a wide spectrum of national concerns including education, health, socio-economic development, cultural preservation and legal advocacy.
As a neutral, dynamic and progressive organisation, POASM plays a complementary and balancing role to government and private sector efforts in advancing the Orang Asli community in an inclusive and sustainable manner. The association maintains strong partnerships with key agencies such as the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) and the Orang Asli Hospital Gombak (HOAG) to implement various impactful programmes focused on community health, empowerment, legal awareness and social wellbeing.
POASM is currently undertaking a digital transformation initiative, involving the development of a centralised membership database and the launch of an official website. This digital platform will streamline the membership registration and fee payment process, facilitate real-time status checks and enable timely information sharing. It is envisioned to improve transparency, operational efficiency and two-way engagement between the organisation and its members.
Due to financial and technical limitations, this digital transformation has yet to be fully realised. Thus, POASM sincerely welcomes financial sponsorship, technical partnerships and collaborative support from government agencies, corporate sectors, CSR organisations and philanthropic contributors to make this transition a reality. Your support will not only strengthen POASM’s institutional professionalism but also connect the Orang Asli community to Malaysia’s growing digital ecosystem.
Throughout its journey, POASM has organised and participated in numerous high-impact programmes that directly benefit the Orang Asli community, including:
- World Indigenous People Day Celebration, Kampung Orang Asli Tanjung Sepat, Selangor (August 1998)
- Orang Asli Day Celebration, Kampung Orang Asli Parit Gong, Negeri Sembilan (August 1999)
- Women’s Day Celebration Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Judah, Pulau Carey (March 2003)
- National Orang Asli Convention (2003)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) awareness workshop for Orang Asli, SUHAKAM (September 2005)
- Customary Land & Rights Workshop, Universiti Malaya (April 2006)
- Peaceful Protest and Police Report on Discrimination in Social Media (May 2015)
- Dialogue with Dutch Delegation on Aboriginal People Perspectives in Timber Industry (July 2015)
- National Education Plan Workshop 2025-2035 (May 2025)
- Petaling Jaya Urban Renewal Focus Group Discussion with MBPJ (June 2025)
- Legal Dialogue on Powers under Act 134 with Amani William-Hunt Abdullah (June 2025)
- Ziarah Kasih Outreach by POASM Supreme Council Members to patients at HOAG (June 2025)
- Guest Appearance at Suara 34 Puncak Prestasi Programme @ Asyikfm, RTM, (June 2025)
- Inception Workshop for Inclusive AHP Blueprint with MOH & WHO (June 2025)
- Traditional Medicine Practices Workshop with HOAG (July 2025)
- Participation in the Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards and Carnival (July 2025)
With its motto BERSATU, BERILMU, BERKHIDMAT (United, Knowledgeable, Served), POASM continues to evolve as a strategic catalyst for empowering Orang Asli community, advancing the Orang Asli rights, and fostering inclusion within the broader framework of Malaysia MADANI. We warmly invite CSR stakeholders, funders and development partners to collaborate with POASM in shaping a more just, resilient, progressive future for the Orang Asli community of Peninsular Malaysia that preserves their cultural heritage and customs in line with the development and progress of our nation.
