Jakoa DG's alleged early termination linked to Harapan's loss in Camerons

SEMENYIH POLLS | A Barisan Nasional MP has claimed that Putrajaya plans to replace the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) director-general following Pakatan Harapan's defeat in the Cameron Highlands by-election.

The newly elected Cameron Highlands parliamentarian Ramli Mohd Nor said this at a ceramah in Semenyih last night, adding that he has close relations with the current Jakoa director-general Ajis Sitin, who is married to his cousin.

"The BN administration is the one that set up Jakoa and it has contributed a lot to the Orang Asli community.

"I heard that he (Ajis) will be replaced, and I heard that it is because they (Harapan) lost in the Cameron Highlands by-election," Ramli alleged, adding that the individual meant to replace Ajis had received an appointment letter.

"During BN's era, it had ensured that the Jakoa head is an Orang Asli," he said.

When met by reporters later, Ramli said Ajis's purported replacement is a Malay administrative and diplomatic officer.

"It is an early (termination); Ajis was appointed last year. He should have a two- or three-year term," he said.

Ajis, the first Orang Asli Jakoa director-general, was appointed in May 2018, several days before 14th general election.

Ramli said this will be one of the matters he will raise in the Dewan Rakyat sitting which will commence on March 11.

When contacted, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Md Farid Md Rafik said he was not aware of the replacement plan.

"At the moment, it is purely rumours," he said.

Ramli, who is the first Orang Asli MP, was brought in by BN as part of its campaign trail for the Semenyih by-election, to garner the support of Orang Asli there.

The ceramah was attended by about 100 Orang Asli from Kampung Sungai Lalang, Kampung Kacau and Kampung Broga. The tok batin (village heads) also attended the ceramah.

Orang Asli folk fall in the category of 'other races', which comprise 0.7 percent or 399 of the total 54,503 voters in Semenyih. The state constituency is a 69.2 percent Malay-majority seat with 16.8 percent Chinese and 13.3 percent Indians.

An Orang Asli, who declined to be named, said they were informed of the ceramah by their tok batin.

Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa was the featured speaker at the ceramah. - Mkini