A/HRC/25/10 130. The delegation responded to questions and comments raised in the preceding interactive dialogue by reiterating that Orang Asli rights to land, beliefs, culture and nondiscrimination were clearly provided for by the Federal Constitution and the Aboriginal People’s Act 1954. 131. The Government clarified that a task force comprising senior officials had been established to review and formulate the necessary strategy regarding the issue of indigenous peoples’ land rights, pursuant to the national inquiry into the land rights of indigenous peoples in Malaysia undertaken by SUHAKAM. 132. The Government continued to hold consultations with State authorities, other relevant agencies and indigenous groups on land issues. Progress had also been made in the survey and gazetting exercise for Orang Asli land. 133. Currently, the Government along with UNDP and UNICEF was collaborating on a study and review of the socioeconomic status of Orang Asli in peninsular Malaysia for the formulation of an Orang Asli national development plan. 134. Sarawak State, with a large indigenous population comprising 27 ethnic groups, had for nearly two centuries had laws which recognized and protected indigenous rights to land. Official records confirm Sarawak has about 1.5 million hectares of native customary rights (NCR) land. A survey to demarcate boundaries and guarantee security of tenure of NCR land was ongoing under the Government Transformation Programme. 135. The current development agenda, involving the building of hydroelectric facilities, necessitated the use of NCR land. Where rights to NCR land were affected, the State Government and its utility company, Sarawak Energy Berhad: (a) adopted best international practices in engagement and consultation with indigenous peoples, which conformed with acceptable norms and standards, including principles embodied in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and (b) provided affected indigenous communities with a comprehensive compensation package, which assured them an immediate and substantial improvement in living standards, better access to basic human rights to education and health care, and better economic opportunities, whilst preserving their cultural identities and traditions. 136. Implementation of the resettlement action plan and compensation package for those affected by the Murum Hydro-electric Project exemplified a process that recognized the rights and well-being of the indigenous people. 137. In recognizing the challenges facing indigenous communities in Malaysia, the Government maintained that those communities must be afforded choice and be free to decide whether they wished to join mainstream society or not. 138. Malaysia continued to recognize women as important human capital. As an affirmative action, the Tenth Malaysia Plan (2011–2015) gave prominence to increasing women’s participation in the labour force and decision-making positions, provision of support in challenging circumstances and eliminating all forms of discrimination. 139. Steps taken to increase women’s participation in the labour force included incentives for the establishment of childcare centres, extension of fully paid maternity leave, employers’ double tax deduction to retrain and employ women after a career break and enactment of the (Part-Time Employees) Regulation 2010. 140. Owing to the success of the “Policy of At Least 30% Women in Decision Making Positions in the Public Sector”, a similar policy for the corporate sector had been introduced in 2011. In addition, the Women Directors Programme had been implemented and the Women Directors Registry established. 12