VILLAGERS in Kampung Orang Asli Lubuk Gaharu, Tapah in Perak, are in need of a new bridge to access their farms and gather forest produce.
Village Tok Batin Mohd Asmadi Abdullah said the existing wooden bridge spanning a river near the settlement was dilapidated and posed a safety risk.
“It was my idea to build the (wooden) bridge two years ago.”
“Together with a few villagers, we built the bridge,” he said when met at the village during a visit by MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.
“The bridge allows us to cross the river easily to reach our farms and nearby forest areas.
“Without it, we would have to travel quite a distance to get to our crops and pick forest produce.”
Dr Mah, who is Tapah MCA chairman, said he had initially allocated about RM2,000 to Mohd Asmadi for a new bridge.
“I have spoken to the Depart-ment of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa), which has agreed to send an officer to the village to see what can be done about it.
“The allocation from my office will be used for other things to benefit the village,” he said.
Dr Mah also hoped Jakoa would consider building Mohd Asmadi a new home.
“The Tok Batin is a good person and always puts other villagers before him,” he said.
“Most of the villagers live in new brick houses but he still lives in his hut, so hopefully he can get a new house.
“The villagers have also requested a flight of stairs leading to the bridge, a sepak takraw court and refurbishments to their dilapidated community hall.”
Perak and Kedah Jakoa director Harulnizam Abd Rahman, who was also present, said he would forward the requests to the Jakoa headquarters.
“We will try to get some things done this year.
“We will send an officer to the village to estimate the cost of rebuilding the bridge first.
“About 100 villagers use the bridge to get crops or forest produce for sale,” he said.
The village recently made headlines after Jaslinda Saludin, who went missing during a hiking expedition at Gunung Batu Putih, was found by villagers and later sheltered at Mohd Asmadi’s home.
