NGO, reps join hands to supply foodstuff for Hulu Langat Orang Asli

In South-eastern Selangor, bordering Negri Sembilan and Pahang, Hulu Langat is home to the highest number of Orang Asli, with nine villages where 723 families reside.

Groups are now working together to help the community obtain essential foodstuffs after the movement control order caused many to lose their source of income.

After putting out a call on Twitter for help, the NGO Pertubuhan Warga Prihatin Hulu Langat used the donations on aid for Kampung Orang Asli Genting Peras yesterday.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, the NGO’s chairperson Fairuz Rusli said his team managed to hand over 45 food aid packs comprising rice, flour, sugar, canned food, instant noodles, cooking oil and eggs to the Orang Asli there.

“They don’t have an income because no one has come to pick up what they collected from the forest to be sold outside the village (due to the order). And their food supply is running out.

“We want to be able to give them enough food to last a whole week, at least,” Fairuz said about the Temuan villagers.

They had also planned to deliver food to another 40 families in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Gabai, but ran low on funds and time.

Fairuz called on the people to continue supporting the NGO so aid could be delivered to more Orang Asli, as well as to other needy communities in the area.

State assemblyperson, MP chip in

There are two state seats in Hulu Langat - Dusun Tua and Semenyih.

Where there are gaps that NGOs are unable to fill, Dusun Tua assemblyperson Edry Faisal Eddy Yusof steps in with his food bank initiative.

However, one week into the order period, Edry told Malaysiakini that even he was running low on foodstuffs.

“Our foodbank will cover Orang Asli villages if we manage to secure more supplies.

“In Dusun Tua, we have five Orang Asli villages,” he said.

As for Semenyih, Hulu Langat MP Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus is working with Fairuz’s NGO to ensure that Orang Asli there have what they need.

He focuses on the area to prevent an overlap with Edry’s initiatives, and also because he is the state government’s appointed “coordinator” to distribute RM30,000 in Covid-19 relief efforts there.

In opposition-held seats like Semenyih, Selangor allocates funds to Pakatan Harapan coordinators instead of assemblypersons.

“The state government aid is especially for Semenyih only.

“But my parliamentary office will top up aid as well,” Hasanuddin told Malaysiakini.  - Mkini