The Effect of the Ownership and Usage of New HumanCapital Change on the Economic Empowerment AmongstOrang Kuala in Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract-Orang Kuala as the sub tribe of Orang Asli (indigenous people in Malaysia) cannot avoid the changes in which occurs around them. For the indigenous people, the change is always perceived as a threat which endangering their traditional human capital. It is rarely that the change is observed from a positive view in which it give them a chance to change their life and compete with the other community. In case of Orang Kuala, they are now participating in business-base economic activities and left the former traditional economic activities as fishermen. Their participation in business activities will alter their traditional human capital and push them to use a new human capital. The positive side of their involvement is that their economic activities will be empowered. This occurs due to the assumption that their engagement in business activities can help them to achieve economic empowerment. To scrutinize the truth, this article has two objectives; to identify the ownership and use of new human capital and to identify whether the new human capital is a factor to economic empowerment. This paper used a quantitative approach which has been conducted on 267 Orang Kuala in Johor, Malaysia. The study showed, the ownership and the use of new human capital are greater amongst businessmen as compared to fishermen. The study also showed that the ownership of new human capital is the factor of economic empowerment without differential amongst the difference of Orang Kuala's occupations.

An anthropogenic factor contributing to the forest land use changes and its socio-economic impact on the Temiar community in Lojing, Kelantan, Malaysia

“…Despite potential negative implications, active participation within the societal structure can yield positive outcomes for the Indigenous community. For instance, the Orang Kuala subgroup has achieved remarkable economic empowerment, significantly enhancing their quality of life (Zal, 2013). Their role as suppliers of essential resources derived from nature to external populations has notably boosted the financial well-being of the Temiar community.…”