The Malaysian Insight

THE Orang Asli community welcomes the government’s food basket programme for them under the Pemulih package.

Prominent Orang Asli activist Tijah Yok Chopil, 53, who lives in Kampung Kudung Bekok in Johor, said the programme will be helpful for their families, especially during such uncertain times. 

“From the RM10 million food basket, each family gets 10kg of rice, three packets of cooking oil, biscuits, sugar and salt. To me, it helps in terms of adding to what the villagers have,” she told The Malaysian Insight. 

“But as we already know, the number of family members is not small. The head of the household still has to work to ensure that there is no shortage of food for the family.”

In June, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced the programme worth RM10 million for Orang Asli folk around the country. 

He also allocated RM300,000 for each member of Parliament to give out food baskets to their constituents. 

Another Orang Asli, Yusri Ahon, 58, who lives in Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Mai in Jerantut, Pahang said while the assistance is considered short term, it still helps. 

He said the Orang Asli community should be thankful and grateful for what the government has given them. 

“But the government and community must always think of long-term assistance, which is not only impactful but can also help ease the government’s burden in the future.” 

The food basket programme will benefit more than 400 residents in Yusri’s village.

Ali Kuchi, from the Jakun community in Kg Pinang in Jalan Muadzam Shah Rompin, Pahang said since the enhanced movement-control order ended in his village, food baskets and other assistance are very much welcomed as the residents still cannot leave their village. 

“We can really use the aid as my fellow villagers and I don’t have much food to sustain ourselves since we can’t move around freely yet,” he said.

Orang Asli lawyer and activist Bah Tony said the food aid programme is vital for the Orang Asli families as many of them have lost their income during the pandemic and are struggling to get by. 

Tony, who lives in Kg Ampang Woh in Tapah, Perak said the pandemic has caused his fellow villagers to either lose their jobs or income. 

“The situation has made it difficult for the villagers who have their own fruit farms to sell their produce and then, there are who have been laid off,” he said. 

“So, yes, the food baskets are very much needed by these families, considering their incomes have either been slashed or lost completely.” – August 5, 2021.