Putrajaya to hold talks with state gov'ts on Orang Asli issues

The federal government will be holding discussions with state governments and related parties to resolve the problems faced by Orang Asli in the country.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P Waythamoorthy said this following his visit to several Orang Asli villages in Kahang who face problems of clean water and electricity supplies, as well as ungazetted customary land.

“Through the visit today, many Orang Asli are in need of improvement to ensure they have basic amenities for their daily lives.

“The biggest problem faced by Orang Asli is customary land, which has not been gazetted. As such we will try to find a solution,” he told reporters after opening a hall at Kampung Orang Asli Pucur in Pekan Kahang near here today.

In this regard, Waythamoorthy said under Budget 2019, RM107 million has been allocated to develop infrastructure as well as utilities for Orang Asli communities nationwide, and it would be used optimally and in phases.

He said utilities such as electricity and clean water supplies would be given full attention by the federal government.

Earlier, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department held a dialogue session with the residents of Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Peroh and Kampung Orang Asli Pucur to obtain their feedback.

- Bernama