PERTANG: The remaining 10 Orang Asli villages in Negri Sembilan will be gazetted if Barisan Nasional forms the state government after Saturday's polls, said Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (pic).
The Pertang incumbent said 58 of the 68 Orang Asli villages in the state had been gazetted as settlement areas.
"Part of the Barisan manifesto framework is to continue the struggle to lift the standing of the Orang Asli community throughout Negri Sembilan.
"Among them is making sure the gazetting of their settlement areas continues for the 10 villages that have yet to be done.
"Another 10 will be carried out once the Negri Sembilan government is formed after Aug 1," he said when met during his campaign rounds at a residential area here on Thursday (July 30).
Jalaluddin said a Barisan state government would also work on household incomes in the community.
"Matters related to income for the Orang Asli will be given attention by a Barisan government, so that they have income to support their families.
"At the very least, one family, one plot of economic activity such as farming and the like, is something we can draw up and arrange for the Orang Asli community throughout Negri Sembilan," he said.
He said the community needed easier access to housing loans.
"What is important to me is that the Orang Asli community must be given some leeway, especially in getting housing loan facilities, and on matters concerning the future of their children in education and business.
"This is a continuation of the service carried out when Barisan ran the state government," he said.
Jalaluddin, who is also the Jelebu MP, said he was in the final stretch of campaigning and had returned to Pertang after visiting other seats across the state.
"This is the final round before polling day on Aug 1. I am concentrating on several more areas in Pertang.
"Yesterday I was in several state seats across Negri Sembilan. Today I am back in my own area to seek a fresh mandate from my voters," he said.
He said support had grown since before nomination day, including among non-Malay voters.
"When I made unannounced visits to several state seats, I found support among the people across this state has gone up very well.
"This support is not only from the Malay community. What makes Barisan happy is the support from non-Malays, the Chinese, Indian and Orang Asli communities, and from older voters, younger voters and first-time voters," he said.
Jalaluddin reminded the machinery of all Barisan candidates to get voters out as early and in as large numbers as possible on Saturday.
"I am confident that on Aug 1 the people will give a total mandate to Barisan, allowing Barisan to form the government that night," he said.
Jalaluddin is facing Pakatan Harapan's Mohd Umry Abdul Khois and Bersatu's Mohd Faizal Fadli Mohd Idrus in a three-cornered fight.
Orang Asli voters make up about 7% of the 12,873 voters in Pertang. Jalaluddin held the seat with a 2,790-vote majority in 2023.
