Substantial achievements by Prime’s Minister Dept in 18 months

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister’s Department (National Unity and Social Wellbeing) has realised various achievements in strengthening community unity and empowering the Orang Asli and Indian communities in the country.

Various strategies and programmes had been drafted by three key agencies under the Ministry, namely, Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN), Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) and the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA) in the 18 months under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.

The ministry, in a statement, said the JPNIN framework had been refined to enhance government cooperation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to achieve the objective of enhancing community cohesion through various initiatives and activities.

It included the launch of the National Unity Index 2018 (IPNas) in collaboration with the National Integration Research and Training Institute (IKLIN), which among others, became a benchmark in measuring the levels of achievements in national unity and harmony.

Under the National Social Unity and Integration Division (KSNIN), 30 My Rukun Negara programmes, 10 Cross Cultural Rukun Negara club module activities and 20 Teacher Quality Improvement programmes were conducted.

The 35-page achievement report card also touched on the approach taken by Jakoa through strategic cooperation and engagements with NGOs and Orang Asli professionals in shaping the direction of the community.

On the whole, the government has provided basic facilities such as electricity, clean water and roads in over 80 per cent of the 853 Orang Asli villages nationwide.

Last April, the National Orang Asli Convention (KOAK) 2019 was also held in Putrajaya which was attended by 1,069 participants comprising Orang Asli leaders, professionals, youth and women, academics, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), Orang Asli NGOs and related government agencies.