TO GO WITH STORY Malaysia-rights-native

TO GO WITH STORY Malaysia-rights-native FEATURE by M. Jegathesan In a picture taken on June 23, 2010 girls of the indigenous Malaysian Semai tribe stand with machetes and baskets preparing to walk into the forest to forage for wild vegetables in Bertang Lama village, Pahang state. Bertang Lama village is home of some 300 of Malaysia's Semai people, an indigenous tribe mired in poverty and struggling to adapt as the multicultural nation races towards modernity. The Semai, once nomadic but now largely settled, are seeking recognition of their traditional land rights as well as basic needs -- piped water, electricity, medicine, education and tarred roads. AFP PHOTO/ Saeed KHAN (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)