Orang asli hope to get their concerns addressed

The orang asli community here are keeping their options open as by-election candidates campaign hard to win over their support.

Their concerns are mainly related to land and basic infrastructure including affordable housing.

The Temuan community near Broga, numbering 300 people, seemed to be receptive towards Pakatan Harapan.

Housewife Melati Sarif, 48, said she did not mind giving Pakatan’s Muhammad Aiman Zainali a chance to prove himself by resolving their problems.

She pointed out that uncertainty about land ownership directly affected their livelihood.

“Sometimes there are development projects such as recreational spots that were approved nearby without any discussion with us,” she said.

A rubber tapper, who only wanted to be known as Aman, agreed.

“Many of us here are rubber tappers so the main issue here has to do with land ownership and rights,” said the 39-year-old.

Another Temuan community, living near the forest reserve beside Kampung Sungai Lalang, were undecided as to who they would support.

A local there who only wanted to be known as Mohamad said the community, numbering between 400 and 500 people, had always supported Barisan Nasional in the past.

But now, he said, they needed to consider the implications of supporting Pakatan.

“The economy is not doing so well, it seems as though there is not much stability under their administration,” said the 33-year-old.

Another man, who declined to be named, added that facilities in their village had to be upgraded and maintained.

“For instance, our hall has been disused and dilapidated for over three years.

“We have to mostly clear and maintain the place ourselves,” he said, adding that affordable housing was also a concern for them.

In one of the Pakatan campaign programmes, Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar said the government was looking at introducing alternative plantations, as a way for the community to make a living.

“At the government level, we are starting to look at other alternatives besides rubber that (the community) can plant and get a better yield from.

“There are two or three agricultural products we have in mind,” he said.