Orang Asli are often associated with terms such as “poverty”, “school dropouts”, “losing land rights” and being “left behind” whenever the community is featured in the media.

These issues are real and affect the Orang Asli but are not a complete and correct representation of the community as a whole. 

These narratives often present a partial and negative view of the Orang Asli who have made significant contributions to the country.

When Shereen Ajani - who is of Temuan descent, an ethnic community from the Proto-Malay Orang Asli subgroup - walked through the gates of Universiti Malaya to pursue a law degree, she had...