History of JAKOA
Former Director General
PDR WILLIAM HUNT
Service Period (1949 – 1953)
R.O.D. NOONE
Service Period (1953 – 1961)
ROD Noone, also known as Dick Noone, was appointed Advisor on Orang Asli Affairs in 1953, just a few months after Peter Darrel Williams-Hunt died. He received his education in Anthropology from University of Cambridge. Given his extensive experience and knowledge of Malaya and Orang Asli, his appointment as advisor on Orang Asli affairs was an excellent choice. He aided Orang Asli by establishing a more comprehensive Department. As a result of his efforts, every state with a large number of Orang Asli has an Orang Asli Protector to help the colonial government channel aid to the Orang Asli community. Aside from that, the “Senoi Praaq” team was formed in May 1956 due to his hardwork, and he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel.
DR. ISKANDAR CAREY
Service Period (1961 – 1969)
Dr. Haji Iskandar Yusof Carey was appointed Assistant Advisor of Orang Asli in the Office of Orang Asli Museum and Research on 1 July 1955. Later, he was appointed Director of Museums and Advisor of Orang Asli Affairs on 19 July 1956. On 14 September 1961, he was promoted to the position of Orang Asli Commissioner, which he held until his retirement on 18 August 1969. Writing in Jawi and speaking in Temiar, German and French are among his skills. In 1969, he was awarded Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan, which was Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) for for his outstanding services and contributions to Orang Asli services and research.
DATUK DR. BAHARON AZHAR BIN RAFFIE’I
Service Period (1969-1986)
Datuk Dr. Baharon Azhar bin Raffie’i was born in Pasir Mas, Kelantan on 17 February 1939. He obtained Bachelor’s Degree (Honours) in Social Anthropology from King’s College, University of Durham, England in 1963, and later on pursued Doctor of Philosophy degree at King’s College, University of Cambridge, England in 1974. He served as Deputy Commissioner of Orang Asli in 1963 and was promoted to Director General of Orang Asli Affairs -Highest Form “E” in 1978. He was awarded Pingat Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) by His Royal Highness the Majesty in 1976. From 1968 to 1969, he was a part-time lecturer at the University of Malaya, and from 1981 to 1983, he was a consultant at CIRDAP, Bangladesh, FAO. He is fluent in Temiar and Semai.
DATO’ JIMIN BIN IDRIS
Service Period (1986 – 1992)
Dato ‘Jimin bin Idris was born on 31st March 1941 in Kelantan and received his early education from 1955 to 1961 at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar, Perak, up to the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan level. In 1965, he obtained Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology/Anthropology (Honours) from University of Western Australia, Perth. He also received a Certificate in Population Studies from the University of Hawaii’s East-West Center in 1970, a Diploma in Social Planning from the London School of Economics from 1973 to 1974, as well as INTAN’s Quantitative Methods Course Certificate in August 1978. He was appointed Deputy Director General in Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli in 1966 and worked as a part-time lecturer at University of Malaya from 1968 to 1971, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia from 1971 to 1973. He is fluent in Temiar and Semai.
EN. HASAN BIN ISHAK
Service Period (1992 – 1995)
He was born on 28 August 1940, in Kota Bharu, Kelantan and began serving in the Civil Service on March 24, 1966. He obtained Bachelor’s Degree from University of Malaya before continuing his studies at Cambridge Overseas Higher School Certificate (CANTAB), Certificate in Development, and Master of Public Administration at the University of Oregon, Portland, USA in 1980. On 1 June 1988, he began serving as the acting Deputy Director General in the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli(JHEOA). He was appointed Director General of JHEOA on 1st January 1993 until his retirement on 28 August 1995.
HJ. IKRAM BIN JAMALUDDIN
Service Period (1996 – 1997)
Dato ‘Haji Ikram bin Jamaluddin was born on 14 October 1947 in Kampar, Perak and received his early education at the SC/MCE/HSC levels. In 1971, he continued his education at University of Malaya, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Malay Studies, as well as a Diploma in Public Administration in 1974. In 1982, he obtained Master of Public Administration from Pennsylvania State University in the United States. Prior to his appointment as Director General of JHEOA in 1996-1997, he served as a Melaka State Development Officer (1977-1978), Acting Deputy Director of Domestic Trade Division (1978-1982), Secretary of Agricultural Economic Division (1982-1985), Batang Padang District Officer (1985-1991), and Perak State Development Officer (1991-1995).
DATO’ HJ. AHMAD SALEH BIN HJ. SARIF
Service Period (1998 – 2000)
Dato ‘Haji Ahmad Salleh bin Haji Sarif was born in Perak Darul Ridzuan on 9 August 1950. He earned a BEC (Hons) from University of Malaya in 1972 and a Master’s Degree from Miami University, United States in 1982. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the advancement of the Orang Asli community, he received the PCM Perak medal in 1993 and the DPMP Perak medal in 1996, both bearing the title Dato’.
EN. MD. ROSNAN BIN SULAIMAN
Service Period (2000 – 2002)
Md. Rosnan bin Sulaiman was born on 29 January 1949 in Melaka. In 1969, he earned a Bachelor of Economics (Public Administration) from University of Malaya. He continued his studies in Administration and Public Policy at University of Wisconsin in the United States in 1981. He was the Divisional Secretary of Ministry of National Unity and Community Development on 16 May 1999. On 10 July 2000, he was entrusted to lead the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli(JHEOA) as Director General until 2002.
HJ. YAHAYA BIN HJ. AWANG
Service Period (2002 – 2003)
Datuk Haji Yahya bin Haji Awang was born in Batu Pahat, Johor Darul Takzim, on June 15, 1947. He completed his OSC – 3 education in 1968 and his HSC (Full Certificate) in 1973. In 1974, he continued his studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences. In 1977, he enrolled at INTAN for the Diploma in Public Administration (Pre-Diplomatic Administrative Officer) Course, and in 1984, earned a Master’s degree in Social Science (Urban) and Regional Studies from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. He was appointed Director General of JHEOA on 16 June 2002 until 2003. As of now, he is a lecturer at Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (IRKHS), International Islamic University Malaysia (UIA) ever since 2016.
EN. MOHAMAD IZAT BIN HASSAN
Service Period (2003 – 2004)
Dato ‘Mohammad Izat bin Hasan was born in Negeri Sembilan on 27 July 1953. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours) from University of Malaya in 1976 and a Master’s Degree in Town and Country Planning (WISC) (US) in 1984. On 16 June 2003, he was appointed as JHEOA’s tenth Director General, a position he held until 2004. He is currently a Board Member of Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) Holdings, a statutory body agency of the Ministry of Rural Development (KPLB).
DATO’ FADZLI BIN MAHAMUD
Service Period (2004 – 2008)
Dato ‘Fadzil bin Mohamad was born on 12 February 1953 in Kedah. He received a Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Economics and a Diploma in Public Management (INTAN) in 1977 and 1978 respectively. From 2004 to 19 February 2008, he was the Director of Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA). In recognition of his outstanding contributions and services, he was awarded Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang on 24 October 2005, which carries the title of Dato, in conjunction with His Majesty Sultan of Pahang’s 75th birthday.
DATO’ HJ. SANI BIN MISTAM
Service Period (2008 – 2014)
Dato ‘Haji Mohd Sani bin Mistam was born on 13 February 1957 in Muar, Johor Darul Takzim. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Malaya in 1986 and pursued Master’s in Economic Development (CDE) at Williams College in the United States in 1996. In 1983, he enrolled in the Diploma Course in Public Administration at INTAN. He was previously the Director of Corporate Division at Malaysia’s Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPJ) before being appointed Director General, Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA) on 24 March 2008. Under his leadership, Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (formerly known as JHEOA) has seen significant success, particularly in defending the Orang Asli community’s fate. On 24 October 2009, he was awarded Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang, which carries the title of Dato, in conjunction with His Majesty Sultan of Pahang’s 79th birthday.
DATO’ HASNAN BIN HASSAN
Service Period (2014 – 2016)
Dato ‘Hasnan bin Hassan was born on 13 May 1962 in Jasin, Melaka. He obtained Bachelor’s Degree (Hons) in Economics in 1985 and Diploma in Public Management from INTAN in 1988. Then, he began his civil service career as an Assistant Secretary in Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance. In 2003, he was appointed Chief Assistant Secretary of the Investment and Subsidiaries Division of Kementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah (KKLW) and served as Divisional Secretary from 2009 to 2011. In addition, he was the Director of the Institute of Rural Development (INFRA), KKLW from 2012 to 2014, before becoming the Director General of the Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (JAKOA) from 10 September 2014 to 13 May 2016. In conjunction with His Majesty Sultan of Pahang’s 84th birthday in 2014, he was awarded the Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang, which bears the title Dato.
EN. MOHD JAMALLUDIN BIN KASBI
Service Period (2016 – 2017)
Jamalludin bin Kasbi was born 8 December 1957 in Johor. In 1981, he obtained Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Sociology and History from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). He began his career in the civil service as a General Administrative Officer (PTA) on 14 December 1981. Next, he served as an Assistant Director at Subang International Airport’s Immigration Office in 1983. On 15 October 1991, he was appointed as the Administrative and Diplomatic Officer (PTD), and later became the Assistant Director of the Security Division at the Immigration Department Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur until 1995. From 2001 to 2004, he was the Chief Assistant Director, Public Complaints Bureau at Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) Southern Region Branch in Johor Bahru. He also served as Senior Division Secretary (Management Services) and Finance Division Secretary at the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKLW) from 2011 to 2016, before being appointed Director General of the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) on June 16, 2016.
DATO’ AJIS BIN SITIN
Service Period (2017 – 2019)
Ajis bin Sitin was born on 8 April 1963 in Kampung Orang Asli, Kuala Koyan, Kuala Lipis, Pahang. He was the Semai tribe’s first Director General from Orang Asli community. In 1987, he graduated with honours from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Kuala Lumpur with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. From 1990 to 1997, he worked as a Road Construction Engineer (Maintenance) at Jabatan Kerja Raya Pahang. He also worked for 6 months as a Senior Superintendent Civil Engineer at the General Building Branch 2, IP JKR Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur before taking over as Deputy Director General (Development) of Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli (JAKOA) in 2017. He became the first Orang Asli to hold the position of Director General of JAKOA on 1st May 2018.
PROF. DR. JULI EDO
Service Period (2019 – 2021)
Prof. Dr. Juli A/L Edo was born on 29 April 1959, in Kampung Changkat Kereta (the original name for Kampung Erong) in Ulu Bernam, Perak. He is the second Director General from Semai tribe and Orang Asli community. In 1985, he received Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and Sociology (Honours) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and also earned Master of Philosophy in Anthropology and Sociology in August 1988. On March 25, 1994, he was granted a scholarship under the Academic Staff Training Scheme, University of Malaya to pursue Doctor of Philosophy at the Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, Australia. On March 25, 1998, he completed his studies by submitting his thesis entitled, “Claiming Our Ancestros” Land: An Ethnohistorical Study of the Seng-Oi Perak, Malaysia.”, and finally conferred his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in April 1999. He was promoted to Associate Professor and later Deputy Dean at University of Malaya’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FSSS) at the end of 1999. He was appointed as JAKOA’s Director General in 2019 until April 29, 2021.