It’s a hard life: Kampung Denai Orang Asli Hanapi Titi (right) and Awang Kelang showing rain water that they store for their everyday use in Rompin, Pahang. — Bernama
GUA MUSANG: The Orang Asli community here hopes that the new unity government will continue to defend and focus on its infrastructure and socioeconomic development issues.
Kelantan Orang Asli chief penghulu Bidi Ronggeng said they also hoped that the new government could speed up the connecting roads to settlement areas such as in Pos Balar, Pos Belatim, Pos Hau, Pos Bihai, Pos Gob, Pos Simpor, Pos Pasik and Pos Tohoi, which are still using logging tracks.
“Previously, residents in the areas had to risk their lives when passing through damaged timber lorry tracks, especially during the monsoon season.
“I am confident that some of the issues faced by us, for example the education of Orang Asli children and infrastructure, can be appropriately addressed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister,” he said.
Bidi said this when met by reporters at Pos Brooke here yesterday, according to Bernama.
As for the penghulu of Kampung Perawas in Pos Balar, Alek Busu hopes that the integrated development project can be implemented in the Orang Asli village area of Gua Musang as soon as possible.
“Complaints about the need for tarred roads or at least bulldozed tracks have often been raised by the surrounding residents to the authorities,” he said.
Alek added that the Orang Asli community was also very excited about the appointment of Ahmad Zahid as minister and hoped to meet him.
“We hope that one day the Deputy Prime Minister will be able to come and meet us here.
“At the same time, he will be able to inspect for himself the condition of the logging tracks and the difficulties we are facing,” said the 60-year-old village chief.
