GUA MUSANG: The Orang Asli community in Nenggiri is clamouring for a younger representative with fresh ideas who can be their voice and stand up for their rights.
Jaafar Along, 56, who is an Orang Asli from the Temiar tribe from Kampung Jader in Pos Simpor here, regardless of who is chosen as the representative in the Nenggiri state by-election, it is crucial that the individual has experience and is genuinely committed to helping the people.
"The representative, young or old, may have certain shortcomings but we want someone with the experience to serve the community,” he told Bernama recently.
Though Jaafar said the age of the people’s representative is not of paramount importance come polling day on Aug 17, while others beg to differ as they vividly remember that the previous state assemblyman was never seen in their midst to help them.
An Orang Asli of the Mendriq tribe from Kuala Lah here, Misbun Mohd Zamri, 22, said one of the criteria for an elected representative sought by this community, must be someone who is diligent in going down to the ground to serve the Orang Asli.
"We want a change from the previous representative who has never been to our villages, due to lack of time or energy (due to age).
"So I think there is no harm in giving a young candidate the opportunity to be our elected representative because young people seem to understand our needs better. The elected representative may come with new alternatives to help us because the ideas of a younger person are fresher,” he said.
Meanwhile, an Orang Asli of Temiar tribe from Pos Simpor, Mohd Syafiq Dendi Abdullah, 36, hopes that this by-election will be a new beginning for the Orang Asli community to enjoy a better life despite living in the sparse interior.
"My hope is that this by-election will be able to elect a representative who can voice the rights of the people of Nenggiri in terms of development, which is far behind compared to other state constituencies,” he said. - Bernama
