SUNGAI SIPUT: Limited broadband access in most Orang Asli villages poses a significant challenge in disseminating information about public sector job opportunities to the community.
Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus estimates that less than 1% of the Orang Asli community nationwide is directly employed in the public sector.
He noted that this percentage is remarkably low compared to the total number of civil servants, which now exceeds 1.6 million.
"So, this is where we see the need to increase the dissemination of information through the organisation of various programmes in their villages," he said after the 2024 Perak Orang Asli Madani Career Carnival at the Pandak Hamid Hall here on Saturday (Dec 7).
Perak Rural Development, Plantation, Agriculture, and Food Industry Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Zolkafly Harun officiated the event.
Ahmad Jailani said the PSC encourages more Orang Asli to venture into the public sector as it can help them change their family's fortunes and escape from the poverty cycle.
"Getting a job in the public sector will change their family's lives to some extent. This is important. If we don't help them, they will remain as they are," he said.
Meanwhile, Zolkafly said around 2,000 Orang Asli participated in the inaugural carnival organised by the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) in collaboration with the PSC.
"The Orang Asli community's response to this career carnival was genuinely unexpected. Initially, we only targeted around 1,200 people, but the number increased because they also came from Pahang, Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan, and other states.
"Given this unexpectedly positive response, I believe this carnival should be continued in the future to support more Orang Asli communities, helping them to advance and ensuring they are not left behind in the state's and nation's development progress," he said. – Bernama
