Landowners to blame for denying Orang Asli electricity

Dengkil assemblyman Shahrum Mohd Sharif says uncooperative landowners refused to allow electricity cables to pass through their land plots.

PETALING JAYA: Uncooperative landowners in Bukit Tunggul are allegedly the reason why Orang Asli villages along Putrajaya’s borders have been left without electricity for years on end.

This was revealed by Dengkil assemblyman Shahrum Mohd Sharif, based on information obtained from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

“The problem stems from landowners who have refused to allow electricity cables to pass through their parcels of lands,” he told FMT.

He added that he and TNB would meet the villagers themselves to enable TNB’s electricity supply project to continue unhindered.

“TNB and I, together with the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) will discuss the matter with the relevant landowners who have stalled TNB’s efforts to supply the villages with electricity.

“If the issue can be resolved, then Federal Government funds can be disbursed immediately.”

Shahrum explained that a similar issue faced by residents of the Bukit Jenuk Orang Asli village was close to being resolved as TNB had already instructed its subsidiary to proceed with the electricity supply project since the Federal Government has approved the allocation of funds for it.

“The project is ongoing and is expected to be completed by mid-July. I hope the villagers can be patient with the problems they are facing.”

On Wednesday, FMT reported that villagers in the four Orang Asli settlements located less than 5 km from Putrajaya, had lived with neither electricity nor water supply since the country achieved independence.

The matter, once made public caused outrage among the people, with activist Mohd Azlan Mohd Sharif of Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM), slamming the issue as unacceptable and embarrassing.

He said the villages that were located along the borders of Selangor and Putrajaya, required the help of both the state and Federal governments to overcome the residents’ woes.

“I call on the Selangor state and Federal agencies to put aside their political differences and help these Orang Asli,” he said when contacted.