KOTA BARU: Heavy rain has caused significant damage to the road leading to the Orang Asli villages in Gua Musang, the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) has confirmed.
The problem was exacerbated by unauthorised entry of vehicles by non-governmental organisations, it added.
Jakoa said the unauthorised activity not only made the road condition worse, but also disrupted the mobility of the Orang Asli community in the area.
“The route from Kampung Kuala Suma to Pos Bihai and Pos Belatim is part of the Rural Road Project involving Kuala Betis-Pos Bihai-Pos Belatim-Pos Balar-Pos Hau route. This project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by 2028,” it said in a statement.
The department said it will closely monitor the progress of the project and prohibit any unauthorised activities that could harm the Orang Asli community, Bernama reported.
It was reported on Saturday that more than 50 Orang Asli students from Pos Balar and Pos Belatim took about 15 hours on a journey of about 80km to return home for the school holidays as the road to their village had been severely damaged by persistent rain over the past week.
The students, travelling in seven pick-up trucks, had to endure muddy road conditions that caused the vehicles to become stuck multiple times.
