Orang Asli stranded by weather worried worst yet to come

Orang Asli who live in several villages at Pos Lenjang and Pos Titom in Kuala Lipis, Pahang are said to have been stranded in the past two weeks due to badly damaged roads.

According to a villager who contacted Malaysiakini, they fear that the situation might turn worse in the coming weeks especially when there is heavy rain.

Awang Inkai, 45, said the Orang Asli are depending on a “jalan balak” (road used to transport timber) as the only way to travel to the nearest town where they do their business.

The area has another road which used to be the villagers’ main access route but it is currently closed for repairs.

“Due to the rainy season, this jalan balak has turned worse and now it is only accessible for large vehicles such as four-wheel-drive trucks.

“Even then, the road condition is so bad that some of us who do have our own 4x4 dare not use the road to travel to town. The risk of damage is not worth it if compared to the small sum of income that we can make from the travel,” said Awang, who sells groceries and forest products.

According to him, the bad road condition had also caused his sister-in-law and her newborn to be stuck for about four hours.

Awang had picked up the woman who had just given birth to her first child to send her to a clinic but they could not pass the road.

“We had to wait for four hours before other villagers came to our aid.”

He said they also fear that the villages may be totally cut off if the location is affected by the monsoon season.

“The government has built two bridges at this jalan balak, which are very good.

“However, there is no use of having bridges if we cannot even use them, as the road connected by them is too badly damaged.

“We hope that the government or relevant agencies can help solve this issue, as repair works on the main road are only expected to be completed by July next year,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor when contacted said his office will extend their assistance to the villagers.

He told Malaysiakini that the government is aware of the plight faced by Orang Asli there, hence the ongoing project to pave a proper road.

“I have highlighted the issue since I became an MP for the area, until it came under the government’s attention. So I hope that the villagers can be patient while I work on the efforts.

“We will help them. We are concerned about their plight, and the area has never been neglected from getting assistance from me as an MP and the Pahang menteri besar who is the Jelai state assemblyperson,” Ramli said. - Mkini