Kuala lumpur: Opportunities in life do not always come in the same form. However, for some members of the Orang Asli community, the courage to seize them with determination and perseverance has become a turning point in their efforts to build better lives.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, for Negeri Sembilan gymnast Noorazrul Jamirul Jamrus, 21, sports became a platform to develop his potential, while for Joenes Ahmad, 46, employment provided an opportunity to transform his family's life through a more stable source of income. Although they come from different backgrounds, both share the same determination not to allow their circumstances to become barriers to moving forward.

For Noorazrul, a member of the Semelai tribe from Jempol, his talent was first spotted by a teacher when he performed basic acrobatics during a school sports day at the age of nine. The opportunity eventually led him to the Malaysia Sports School Pahang (SSMP) in Gambang and later to the Bukit Jalil Sports School (SSBJ). "As a member of the Orang Asli community, sports represent a great opportunity for me to move forward and step beyond the environment I grew up in. I have made full use of this opportunity as a foundation for my future," he told Bernama. His journey bore fruit when he won a gold medal in the vault event at the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak.

While Noorazrul found his opportunity through sports, Joenes built a more stable life through employment after experiencing the uncertainty of earning a living. The father of four, who is from the Temuan tribe, previously depended on tapping rubber trees on his family's smallholding. However, his income was uncertain, and he had also suffered losses due to theft. This prompted him to try various jobs before joining SWM Environment as a general worker with its Solid Waste Collection Unit in 2014. He has since been entrusted with the role of Head Worker of the Drain Cleaning Unit. "After nearly 12 years of service, this job is not merely a source of income but also a responsibility to ensure that the community's surroundings are properly maintained. It has also enabled me to support my family with a better and more stable income," said the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Cleaning Worker Award.

According to Joenes, permanent employment has also transformed his family's life by providing a more stable income and benefits such as contributions to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), annual leave, and healthcare benefits. The same spirit can also be seen among young members of the Orang Asli community, who view skills education, entrepreneurship, and employment as pathways towards building a more secure future.

For 18-year-old Orang Asli youth from Selangor, Asmaliza Sarif, the opportunity to further her studies in hairdressing is important for enhancing her skills and opening up wider employment opportunities. A holder of Malaysian Skills Certificates (SKM) Levels One and Two from Sekolah Menengah Pendidikan Khas Vokasional Shah Alam, she is now working towards securing a place to continue her studies at SKM Level Three.

Meanwhile, Roney Anak Gali, 18, from the Mah Meri tribe in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Bumbun, Carey Island, chose to work at a packaging factory in Jenjarom to support his widowed mother. Despite already having a job, Roney has not given up his dream of pursuing skills training in welding to build a more secure career. "I work in a factory because I do not want to burden my family. It is a little difficult to continue my studies because I am the only one looking after my mother. My ambition is to work in welding, and the assistance I need is mainly in terms of transportation and accommodation while studying," he said.

For 16-year-old Safira Krisna Anak Kanang, her dream is to become a cake entrepreneur, and she needs basic equipment to take her first steps in the field. Apart from educational and skills opportunities, she also hopes that basic infrastructure in Orang Asli settlements can be improved to make it easier for the community to move around and carry out their daily lives.

All these stories demonstrate that the desire to transform one's life is not uncommon among the Orang Asli community. Instead, opportunities that come through sports, education, skills training, employment, or entrepreneurship are embraced as stepping stones towards a better future. In the context of the 2026 National Day and Malaysia Day (HKHM) theme, "Malaysia MADANI: Kesejahteraan Dinikmati", their stories also reflect how inclusive well-being begins when every citizen is given the space and opportunity to develop their potential, regardless of background.