Revamp Orang Asli dept to be independent, says Asli chief

 

Rashid Ka’, president of the Orang Asli political party, said the Orang Asli department suffered from weak management and failed to make reforms. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

An Orang Asli leader has dismissed a suggestion for a Mara-like statutory body dedicated to the community’s affairs, but instead called for a revamp of the Orang Asli development department (Jakoa).

Rashid Ka’, president of Parti Orang Asli Malaysia (Asli) said the department’s management was not only weak but had failed to bring about reforms and changes for the community including helping them overcome poverty.

Rashid said the time has come for the department to be managed by an Orang Asli and to be free of political interference.

Jakoa’s role needs to be improved without establishing a new entity. 

If a new organisation is set up, but it is mismanaged, the Orang Asli would continue to be trapped in poverty,” he told FMT.

Give Orang Asli the opportunity to have complete control over Jakoa,

 he said. When the department is run by someone from the community, it would better understand Orang Asli problems.

Rashid’s remarks came in response to a suggestion by Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Nor that a Mara-like statutory body be set up, dedicated to looking after the rights and welfare of the Orang Asli.

He said Mara had helped to produce more professionals among the Malays and Bumiputeras, which alleviated the poverty rate to some extent.

Ramli, who is the only Orang Asli member of the Dewan Rakyat, alleged that the Orang Asli department had been ineffective with representatives in districts who were equivalent to senior clerks without authority to make certain decisions, and always having to refer to their superiors.

Jakoa is currently headed by Sapiah Nor, an Orang Asli herself, who was appointed as the department’s director in September 2021. - FMT