Orang Asli activists have chided Pahang Jakoa director Johari Alwi for issuing a statement in which Orang Asli who don't register for Covid-19 vaccines appear to be threatened with the withdrawal of cooperation on land issues and the cutting off of their access to other aid.
However, Johari told Malaysiakini that his words are not a threat but an alarm call to the Orang Asli that they need to align themselves with the Covid-19 vaccine campaign.
Johari's Facebook post said that he had expected the promotion of the Covid-19 vaccination to progress further than it has done up until now and that he had previously sounded the alarm that those who do not register for the vaccination will face difficulties in the future.
"What is done is an action that is very necessary, even though it looks like cruel...
"The latest news from the decision of the Pahang State Disaster Task Force Meeting this morning was that we were informed by the Pahang state government secretary that the state government will "cut off" anyone who doesn't register for vaccines.
"Land applications will be rejected. All government assistance will not be given to those who are not registered, including Welfare Department assistance and the RM7.8 million (in relief funds).
Johari's words appeared to be an extreme extrapolation of a Pahang state government directive that said those who wished to engage Pahang state government department's offices and counters are encouraged to register for the vaccination programme through the MySejahtera app.
Tijah Yok Chopil of the Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia told Malaysiakini that Johari's approach was wrong.
"If you want the Orang Asli to vaccinate, you must do it differently. Teach them to register the Mysejahtera app.
"Call the village boys who understand and know how to use Mysejahtera to help those villagers who do not understand what to do.
She said that the effects of Covid-19 infection are great if there is no vaccine to protect one's body, and hence educating the people was important.
"There is no need to threaten and make the Orang Asli fearful over land issues. Because before this Covid-19 did not exist at all but there was a Jakoa and still the government never resolved many, many Orang Asli land issues.
"If you are sincere in settling these land issues, you would have settled it a long time ago, not wait for the vaccine," Tijah said.
She also questioned if the directive would apply only to the Orang Asli community in Pahang, or if it would be extended to the other races as well.
Orang Asli activist Zurdi Baharu added his views that vaccination is an important issue for the communities and the government and its various agencies need to make sure that its explanation is clear and well-received.
"Covid-19 is a serious health issue and there needs to be a wholesome solution that is accepted by all the communities so that full cooperation can be extended.
"I would suggest working with Asyik FM (the Orang Asli radio station) and the Hospital Orang Asli in Gombak to help educate the people," Zurdi said.
"Somehow the idea of vaccination has become a sensitive issue in the communities. Whatever news that comes through on social media or WhatsApp spreads fast and is easily believed and causes confusion among the people," he added.
He was referring to concerns that many in the various Orang Asli communities have been exposed to negative propaganda by anti-vaccination campaigners and that this might increase their resistance to getting vaccinated, thus leaving them vulnerable.
Limited access to smartphones and stable internet lines are also issues, given that the vaccine registration processes are taking place online.
Johari, in his explanation, told Malaysiakini: "It is not a threat but an alarm call to the Orang Asli.
"I was just reminding them of the worst scenario that one day might happen and the Orang Asli will have difficulties if they don’t register.
"As a federal agency, we have to do something about this decision and find ways to overcome it so that the Orang Asli will not be negatively affected by any state decision," he said.
Malaysiakini is attempting to contact the Pahang state government to further clarify if its decision to push the Covid-19 vaccination programme to the Orang Asli community could indeed impact negatively on land issues and access to aid relief. - Mkini
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