A UN representative has urged Malaysia to fully implement the intergovernmental body’s past recommendations regarding the cultural rights of indigenous peoples in the country.

The UN special rapporteur on cultural rights Karima Bennoune also urged Malaysia to invite her counterpart dealing with the rights of indigenous peoples to visit the country “as a matter of priority”.

She said this in her preliminary report released yesterday, following her visit to Malaysia at the federal government’s invitation.

“Considering the number of recommendations that have been made in the past by international bodies and experts, more significant steps must be taken with (not for) the Orang Asli on this matter.

“The past recommendations made by relevant UN bodies on the cultural rights issues confronting indigenous peoples in Malaysia must be fully implemented without delay. The special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous people should be invited to visit the country as a matter of priority,” she said in her report yesterday, which is over 6,200 words long and covered a wide range of issues...