Apply for repair funds through right channels, Labis MP tells Johor Orang Asli

 

Labis MP Pang Hok Liong clarified that he has no issues with approving the allocation for an Orang Asli village in Segamat, Johor, to buy materials for pipe repairs if it was applied through the right channel.

Pang told Malaysiakini that the application must be submitted by Kampung Orang Asli Selai’s village community management council and not by Tok Batin (village head) Achai @ Juti Kais.

Citing guidelines from the Prime Minister's Department’s Implementation Coordination Unit, the DAP lawmaker explained that MPs can only approve and issue allocations to those who applied through the village community management council.

“On April 11 last year, my office received the application letter from Achai dated March 23, 2023. That was after the flood in March the same year.

“The next day, my staff called them (the Orang Asli villagers) and told them to submit a letter via their village community management council.

“It’s beyond my power to approve applications submitted by individuals because, in the end, we don’t know if they will use the money to do any projects or not.

“So, as long as they submit through the village community management council, I will approve it, no issue,” he told Malaysiakini today.

This comes after Malaysiakini reported that Orang Asli in the village have resorted to using sticks and stones to repair water pipes and a water catchment dam to get water supply after a flood hit the village more than a year ago.

Villagers of Kampung Orang Asli Selai repairing water pipes and a water catchment dam with sticks and stones

Achai said the residents had appealed for help to Pang, Bekok assemblyperson Tan Ching and the district’s Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) but no action has been taken to address their plight.

“I wrote to them to ask for an allocation of RM25,415 for us to purchase new pipes and cement but Tan and Jakoa said the cost was too high for them to bear.

“Meanwhile, Pang asked us to write to him in the capacity of the village community management council. But we don’t have such councils... so, there was no action taken until now,” the 61-year-old said.

‘Inactive’ council

According to Pang, there is a village community management council in Kampung Orang Asli Selai.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Achai - who is also Johor Orang Asli Action Committee chairperson - confirmed there is indeed such a council in the village but it’s “not active”.

“The council is no longer active. There are no meetings held every three months or six months. So, basically, there’s no council. It’s not active anymore,” Achai said.

Meanwhile, Johor Jakoa in a statement yesterday refuted claims that the villagers have been neglected, asserting that the village has received water supply from tube wells developed by the department.

It said it is also upgrading the electricity supply system at the water treatment plant in the village.

According to Jakoa, the maintenance contractor has appointed Achai to supervise the system daily, with a payment of RM400 per month to ensure the water treatment system operates effectively.

“The affected residents also received financial aid of RM1,000 from the water treatment system maintenance contractor to repair the gravity-feed system,” it added.

Payment received only once

However, Achai denied receiving a monthly payment of RM400 from the maintenance contractor.

“I have only received RM400 once and that was in March 2023. The maintenance contractor gave me the one-off payment but he said it was payment to install the pipes from the water tank to the water pump. That was it.

“If Jakoa is dissatisfied, please come to the village and meet me as well as the villagers here. Come and see for yourself,” Achai told Malaysiakini.

Malaysiakini has been made to understand that Johor Jakoa will investigate the RM400 payment to Achai by the maintenance contractor. - Mkini