Selangor sets up committee to look into welfare of Orang Asli

SHAH ALAM (Bernama): The Selangor government has set up a permanent committee on matters pertaining to the well-being of the Orang Asli community to ensure more focused development involving the group in the state.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (pic) said the setting up of a permanent committee last week was in line with the intention of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who wanted the well-being of the Orang Asli community in the state to be more protected.

“(Executive councillor) Hee Loy Sian will chair the permanent committee beginning next year. With its establishment, there are several matters related to the well-being and development of the Orang Asli community that we can focus on.

“The establishment of the permanent committee has also been agreed through the state executive council and allocation (for the permanent committee) will be made available next year,” he told reporters after attending the Selangor government departments’ monthly assembly here Monday (Dec 16).

On Nov 3, Sultan Sharafuddin said he wanted the federal and state governments to review the declining amount of allocation channelled to the Orang Asli Development Department since 2017.

The Selangor Ruler also expressed his hope that the interests of Orang Asli be continuously protected with a focus on the basic development of the community.

Sultan Sharafuddin also urged the Orang Asli community to pay more attention to the education of their young people so that they would not be left behind by the current state of development in Selangor. – Bernama