The Unity Government is drafting various development and education plans for the benefit of the Orang Asli community in the Peninsula, including in the Pulai Parliamentary constituency.
Chairman of the Orang Asli Entrepreneur and Economic Development Secretariat Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor said the effort was to ensure that the group was not left behind, including from the economic aspect.
He said the interest of the Orang Asli community must continue to be preserved in line with the group's special position as enshrined under Article 8(5)(c) of the Federal Constitution.
"For the Orang Asli community in the outskirts of the city such as in the Pulai Parliamentary, there is a lot of room to (develop), compared to those (Orang Asli) who are in the interiors.
"If we want to bring development in terms of infrastructure (in the interior), that is difficult and involves high expenses. Here (Pulai Parliament), everything is already there, only the community has to take the opportunity provided by the State Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) and the government," he said.
He said this to reporters after visiting Kampung Orang Asli Bakar Batu, here today, which was also attended by Johor State JAKOA director Faisal Long.
Ramli, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat said that among the plans made with the State JAKOA director was the provision of basic assistance, education and road structure repair.
The Cameron Highlands Member of Parliament at the same time hoped that the prospective representatives elected in the by-election this Saturday, could continue to fight for the welfare of the Orang Asli community in the area.
In Pulai Parliament there are two Orang Asli villages, namely Kampung Orang Asli Bakar Batu and Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Temon.
According to JAKOA, a total of 289 residents from 74 families live in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Temon and 211 residents from 52 families live in Kampung Orang Asli Bakar Batu with the majority of both residents' occupations being fishermen.
Of that number, 187 residents of Sungai Temon and 119 from Bakar Batu are eligible to vote in the Pulai Parliamentary by-election this Saturday.
The Pulai Parliamentary by-election and the Simpang Jeram state assembly by-election were held following the unexpected vacancy following the death of the incumbent Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub on July 23.
-- BERNAMA
Source: BERNAMA News Agency