JEMPOL: As the only Orang Asli candidate contesting in the Negri Sembilan election, Dayana Dal says she is seeking to represent not just her own community but every resident of Jeram Padang.
The 40-year-old homemaker, who is contesting under Parti Orang Asli Malaysia, said her campaign has shown that the issues faced by Orang Asli villages are often the same ones affecting Malay, Chinese and Indian communities.
“I don’t want to focus only on the Orang Asli community. Just as candidates from other parties represent everyone, Orang Asli can also represent everyone,” she said in an interview.
Dayana said the constituency’s most pressing issue was its longstanding water supply problem.
“From our surveys and meetings with residents, we found that it is not just Orang Asli villages facing water shortages. People outside the villages are experiencing the same problem.
She also highlighted poor Internet connectivity, saying weak mobile signals continued to disrupt online learning and access to information.
“Maybe it’s because of the hilly terrain or the lack of telecommunications towers,” she said.
Dayana admitted that she had never imagined entering politics and initially felt awkward after being approached to contest.
“It is not easy for an Orang Asli to be given the opportunity to stand in Jeram Padang.
“Previously, it was mostly men who contested. I wanted to show that women are capable too,” she said.
The mother of three said her candidacy had inspired many within the Orang Asli community, although support was initially mixed because Parti Orang Asli Malaysia is a relatively new party.
“At first they were doubtful, but after we met them and explained our goals, they began to understand what we stand for,” she said, estimating support among Orang Asli voters to be “about 50-50”.
She added that voters from other communities had also responded positively.
Dayana said her party was established to give Orang Asli a stronger political voice, but stressed that its mission went beyond representing a single community.
“We want Orang Asli to have representation, but at the same time we want to improve everyone’s lives,” she said.
Born and raised in Kampung Orang Asli Jeram Padang, Dayana was unable to pursue tertiary education despite receiving an offer from a private college after her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations in 2004 because of financial constraints.
She instead helped her family tap rubber before working in Selangor for about four years, an experience she said broadened her outlook and gave her the confidence to enter politics.
“I learnt a lot from meeting people from different backgrounds. Those experiences made me more mature and gave me the courage to take on this challenge,” she said.
Dayana is facing Bersatu’s R. Sri Sanjeevan, Pakatan Harapan’s G. Manivannan and Barisan Nasional’s Mohd Zaidy Abdul Kadir in a four-way battle in tomorrow’s election.
