Minister calls for jobs, infrastructure for Orang Asli shantytowns

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy has proposed several measures to help residents at Orang Asli settlements near a dumpsite in Rompin, Pahang.

Speaking at a press conference after meeting the villagers today, Waythamoorthy said the villagers’ main demand was for their dumpsite settlement to be maintained.

The minister said he has raised the matter with the local district officer who would check if there were conflicting claims on the land.

“If there is no overlapping claim, then the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) would apply for the land to be gazetted (as an Orang Asli settlement), and start surveying works and so on,” he said, based on a recording of the press conference provided by his office.

He added that Jakoa would temporarily provide clean water for the villagers weekly until a permanent supply can be put in place.

He also said there would be discussions to find ways to provide electricity for the 22 Orang Asli households, including solar power supply.

To provide an alternative source of income instead of trespassing and collecting recyclables from SWCorp’s dumpsite, Waythamoorthy said he has asked the company to look into the possibility of hiring the villagers.

He said the Orang Asli earn between RM400 and RM500 per month picking garbage at the site, which he noted is a restricted area and potentially hazardous to work at.

Among the ideas proposed include a fertigation project, or rearing fish in fishponds.

“The cost (for these projects) would be different. For the 22 families, the cost may be between RM200,000 and RM500,000.

“Whatever the cost is, the government will help and absorb it,” he said.

The Malay Mail had highlighted the plight of the villagers last Friday, which included photos of Orang Asli children scavenging for scraps on heaps of garbage.

It is learnt that some Orang Asli had chosen to live there despite having no running water or sanitation because they could earn up to RM700 a month through scavenging. They had resisted earlier attempts to resettle them in new villages under the "Rancangan Pengumpulan Semula" programme.

Waythamoorty told reporters that the village at the dumpsite was established about 10 to 15 years ago, with settlers originating from six different villages.

Its population has since grown to 82 people. - Mkini