40 Orang Asli students brave 11-hour trek home, cross swollen river

 

Some 40 Orang Asli students from three schools in the district were forced to endure an arduous journey of about 11 hours, covering more than 90 kilometres, to return to their villages in Pos Gob after its access roads were severely damaged by heavy rain. - Courtesy pic

GUA MUSANG: Some 40 Orang Asli students from three schools in the district were forced to endure an arduous journey of about 11 hours, covering more than 90 kilometres, to return to their villages in Pos Gob after its access roads were severely damaged by heavy rain.

The students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Panggung Jaya, SMK Tengku Indera Petra 1 and Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Betis began their journey home at about noon yesterday.

Pos Gob Orang Asli Village Security and Development Committee (JPKKOA) chairman Hady Liman said all the students were returning to Pos Gob following the end of the final school term.

He said continuous rain over the past week had caused serious damage to the road leading to the Orang Asli settlement.

"All the students arrived in Pos Gob at about 4am today, drenched, exhausted and hungry. Normally, during the dry season, the journey only takes four to five hours.

"We parents also gathered at Kampung Gob and waited for a very long time, deeply worried about our children's safety as heavy rain had continued since the beginning of the week.

"The students had to endure extremely difficult conditions due to the damaged roads and also took the risk of crossing Sungai Puian, where water levels can rise at any time, and the current is strong," he said when contacted today.

He expressed hope that the route from Pos Simpor to Pos Gob could be covered with gravel during the monsoon season to prevent it from becoming slippery, and that upgrading works on the access road to the Orang Asli settlement could be expedited.

Meanwhile, resident Yusman Andok, 45, said villagers were also facing difficulties leaving the area due to the damaged road.

"Residents' vehicles, including motorcycles, have been getting stuck in the mud.

"Journeys that usually take five to six hours are now taking up to 11 hours to reach several villages around Pos Gob, such as Kampung Berog, Kampung Kelerang, Kampung Pinchong and Kampung Gob," he said. - NST