CAMERON POLLS | In a dialogue with Orang Asli Tok Batin (village chiefs) today, a Pakatan Harapan senator warned to not pay salaries and even remove chiefs if they did not vote for the federal government.
PKR senator Bob Manolan Mohd said this during the question and answer segment.
“Batin are paid by the federal government, therefore, batin must support Pakatan Harapan. If they don’t support, kita buang (we remove them).
“Any batins who do not support the government, we will not pay their salary. It’s true! We will not pay them.
“If we pay them (but) they don’t support us, why should we pay them?
“We want Orang Asli community leaders and Village Community Management Council (MPKK) leaders to support the agenda of the people, eh (I mean) the agenda of the government,” he said to a question about which government paid the salaries of village chiefs during the Sesi Ramah Mesra event in the BN stronghold of Pos Betau, Jelai.
In the audience, were chiefs and representatives of 18 Semai Orang Asli villages from the area.
Village chiefs are paid between RM800 and RM1,200 based on the number of villagers they oversee and the area size of their village.
Bob, an Orang Asli himself, who contested and lost the Kemayan state seat during GE14, explained that the Harapan government only wanted village chiefs whom it could cooperate with, for the betterment of the people.
“If they can’t work with the present government, how can we choose them as village leaders?
“The policies of the present government are not like the previous government. The current government wants Orang Asli leaders who defend the rights and welfare of their people.
“Problems in the village must be brought to the attention of the government, unlike before when (chiefs) just nodded their head as long as money was given to them every month. This, we can’t accept,” he said.
BN’s Ramli on ‘sinking ship’
Also present was Deputy Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister, and Raub MP Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji.
The DAP politician urged the chiefs against to not support BN’s Cameron Highlands candidate Ramli Mohd Nor (photo).
Ramli is a retired police officer, formerly the highest ranked among the Orang Asli in the force.
“Even though their (BN’s) candidate is good, they say he is an Orang Asli, but the party he is representing is a party that is about to die!
“[...] Even if he is a good local Orang Asli, his ship is about the sink! What will he be able to bring?” Tengku Zulpuri asked.
Similarly, Bob called for them to reject Ramli.
“Why would he bersekongkol (conspire) with a party who cheated the Orang Asli? Where is his dignity?” he asked.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Fuziah Salleh, Bentong MP Wong Tack, Ketari assemblyperson Young Syefura and senator Adrian Lasimbang also spoke at the event.
The dialogue session was organised by the Raub parliament service centre in partnership with the Kuala Lipis Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) office.
Nomination day for the Cameron Highlands by-election is tomorrow (Jan 12) while polling day is Jan 26.
Based on GE14 figures, the Orang Asli make up about 22 percent of the parliamentary constituency.
Aside Ramli, DAP Pahang deputy chairperson M Manogaran and disputed MyPPP president M Kayveas have declared their candidatures. -Mkini
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