DEVELOPING A SOCIO-DEVELOPMENT INDEX INSTRUMENT FOR THE ORANG ASLI IN MALAYSIA

The Orang Asli, recognised as the earliest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia, continue to face persistent challenges in achieving socio-economic advancement in national development. Despite the implementation of various government policies and initiatives, the lack of an assessment tool has limited efforts to capture their multidimensional development. This study was therefore to address this gap by identifying and validating the most relevant indicators for constructing a socio-development index tailored to the Orang Asli community. This method was used to obtain consensus among experts on the primary needs for each item in the development of the Orang Asli socio-development index instrument. As a result, this study consulted 14 experts from various fields related to the Orang Asli. This study employed the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) to obtain expert input and consensus on the proposed socio-development index indicators. The results indicate that thirty-two indicators were accepted for inclusion in the index, encompassing nine domains: Level of Educational Achievement, Complete Infrastructure, Economic Empowerment, Environmental Sustainability, Leadership Empowerment, Land Recognition, Level of Health Care, Policy and Legislation, and Cultural Heritage Empowerment. The findings contribute to the establishment of an index that captures the dimensions of Orang Asli socio-development. The validated indicators offer policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders a reliable tool to monitor progress, identify development gaps, and design more effective, inclusive, and sustainable interventions tailored to the unique needs of the Orang Asli community.