Indigenous People

Indigenous People

Gamuda respects the rights of Indigenous groups, including those of Malaysia's Orang Asli and Orang Asal as well as Australia’s First Nations peoples, in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Prioritising mutual respect and trust, we keep these communities informed and seek their Free Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in decisions and actions impacting their communities. Acknowledging their connection to their ecosystems, we collaborate with them for sustainable resource management.

Community Engagement and Supporting Livelihoods

Employment and
sustainable income
Orang Asli members have been employed as rangers, chefs, and for cultural workshops. The Orang Asli Craft Centre in Gamuda Cove is a space to showcase their handicrafts, enhance their skills, promote education, and create income and employment opportunities.
GParks
Programme
Extracurricular environmental and conservation learning initiatives are being implemented for schools. GParks Youth programmes led by Gamuda will also encourage university students’ participation in in climate change advocacy.
Knowledge transfer
and cultural showcase
In collaboration with the Global Environment Centre and Sahabat Hutan Gambut, we support the Orang Asli community's socioeconomic upliftment. We facilitate handicraft sales at the Wetlands Arboretum Centre, provide RM6,000 monthly for production, and host cultural activities. Additionally, we employ Indigenous community members, appreciating their unique knowledge.

Indigenous Inclusion

Gamuda is committed to respecting the rights of Indigenous groups according to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We prioritise transparency in our actions, impacts and progress, and always seek their free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) in any decisions that may affect them. Our initiatives on uplifting Indigenous groups are focused on benefit sharing and cultural preservation. They have enabled us to develop lasting relationships built on mutual respect and trust.

Orang Asli in
Malaysia
  • Employment opportunities (Orang Asli make up 5.3% of our Malaysia workforce)

  • Education through GL Rangers, Gamuda Scholarships, after-school classes and tablets

  • Knowledge transfer and cultural showcases to support sustainable income

  • Essential healthcare services

  • Yayasan Gamuda’s Strengths-Based Education programme

  • Stories from the Orang Asli Communities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia
  • Equitable access to employment (Aboriginal peoples make up 2.5% of our Australian workforce)

  • Member of Supply Nation, NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, Kinaway Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, and Yarpa Hub

  • Invested over AUD47 million in 76 aboriginal businesses

  • Reconciliation Action Plan aligned with Federal Indigenous Participation Policy

  • Social initiatives including cultural events and education

Healthcare

Yayasan Gamuda and Gamuda Clinic provide essential healthcare services to Orang Asli and underserved communities, benefiting 3,000 individuals with 420 hours served. Our healthcare outreach focuses on children and self-care, including healthy eating habits and proper dental hygiene, delivering education on these topics to all age groups. We conduct monthly outreach sessions and revisit the communities every three to six months.

Education

The Strengths-Based Education (SBE) programme is developed to empower Orang Asli students and out-of-school youth. The programme focuses on knowledge, leadership, and livelihood capabilities. The SBE Toolkit is used in Community Learning Centres (CLCs) to provide inclusive, high-quality learning for learners aged 5 to 17. We have partnered with three award-winning NGOs to create an ecosystem that reduces barriers for the Orang Asli communities. Since January 2023, we have started teacher training and pilot testing of the Toolkit's modules in CLCs. Additionally, we offer scholarships to deserving Indigenous students with environmental stewardship goals.

Stories from the Orang Asli Communities

In September 2024, Yayasan Gamuda released the second edition of the Stories from the Orang Asli Communities, featuring six new storybooks told and illustrated by five sub-ethnic groups. Building on the inaugural 2023 publication, the collection enriches the SBE Programme with culturally sustaining learning materials that celebrate indigenous creativity and safeguard oral traditions for future generations.

Gamuda's Reconciliation Action Plan in Australia

Gamuda Australia and DT Infrastructure (DTI) are committed to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) focuses on building meaningful relationships, supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and employment, and respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and heritage. In 2024, we launched our second Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which follows our first RAP developed in 2022. This is one of the four types reflected in Australia’s RAP Framework.

Furthermore, DTI has developed and submitted their RAP to Reconciliation Australia for formal review and feedback.

Other initiatives include:

Gamuda is a member of Supply Nation, NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, Kinaway Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, and Yarpa Hub. These affiliations allow us connect with Aboriginal businesses nationwide.

In line with the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) and the Aboriginal Procurement Policy (APP) of New South Wales, Gamuda has allocated over AUD 58 million for 74 Aboriginal businesses across three major projects.
Through a partnership with the Yalari Foundation, a non-profit organisation providing Indigenous children with access to leading boarding schools across Australia, DTI proudly supports the Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship. This initiative enables Indigenous students entering Year 7 to access quality education, personal development, and opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.
In conjunction with NAIDOC (National Aborigines’ and Islanders’ Day Observance Committee) Week, Gamuda has raised awareness, shared information, and celebrated the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples across our corporate offices and project sites.
Gamuda integrates heritage through design to ensure our projects reflect, preserve, and celebrate the cultural identity of the communities in which we operate. By working closely with local artists, Traditional Owners, and community groups, we incorporate Aboriginal artworks and community-led murals into our infrastructure and public spaces.

Trade Union – Vietnam

Vietnam’s trade union system led by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) is mandated by government to protect workers’ rights.

Trade Union – Australia

The industrial gains are many: decades of wage increases through the award system and campaigns in the field, safer workplaces, greater equality for women, improvements in working hours, entitlements to paid holidays and better employment conditions, and the establishment of a universal superannuation system.

Trade Union – Vietnam

Vietnam’s trade union system led by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) is mandated by government to protect workers’ rights.

Trade Union – Australia

The industrial gains are many: decades of wage increases through the award system and campaigns in the field, safer workplaces, greater equality for women, improvements in working hours, entitlements to paid holidays and better employment conditions, and the establishment of a universal superannuation system.

Sustainable Design

Driving Innovation with Next-Gen Digital Industrialised Building System (IBS)

We are a leader in designing and using the latest technology and tools across all of our infrastructure and development projects.

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Case Study: MRT Putrajaya Line

Effective management of large-scale projects involves initiatives for climate adaptation, innovative approaches, geotechnical capabilities, and safety and health. By integrating these elements, projects can be successfully managed, delivering sustainable solutions.

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ESG Certification