The Malaysian Insight

A MEASLES outbreak that hit the Orang Asli in Kuala Koh, Gua Musang in Kelantan, claiming 15 lives three years ago, has left a scar on the community.

To this day they do not want to believe that the deaths were caused by the virus, Batek tribe members told The Malaysian Insight.

Instead they believed the sickness had something to do with the river water polluted by mining.

A resident, Aziz Ahmad, said neither the federal nor the state government has tried to help the community.

“We depend on boring (underground) water for clean water supply. This was facilitated by civil society groups, not the government,” he said.

Aziz said water is also sourced from a ditch near a palm oil plantation, about half a kilometre from the village, for bathing and laundry.

He said the need to get water supply is so urgent now as their children can now go to school in their own village.

“A school was built this year. Previously the children went to SK Pasir Linggi and lived in the dormitory. Now there is no need for them to go far.

“The only problem is that there is no water. It is difficult for them to get ready for classes even though they are so excited to go to school,” he said.

The Batek tribe used to live a nomadic lifestyle until 2008, when the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) opened a new settlement for them in Kuala Koh.

In 2019, they suffered a measles outbreak, which caused 100 to fall ill while 15 died due to the virus.

The PAS government does not recognise the customary land rights of the Orang Asli. They are also threatened by deforestation for palm oil plantations and mining.

Aziz said many of his tribe members have lost their income.

“Some of us work in palm oil plantations or as park rangers.

“In the past, all of our jobs depended on the forest. Now there is no such thing because there is nothing there,” he said.

Aziz said those who depended on forest products for income now have to travel to Tasik Kenyir.

“Usually we look for kacip fatimah, rattan but even rattan is hard to get now,” he said.

“Or we look for resin stones that are used by fishermen as glue for their boats. If we are lucky, we can get agarwood. We can make perfume with it,” he said.

“If this wood is grade A, it can fetch RM230,000 for 1kg.

He said the Orang Asli have to compete with poachers from Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

He said PAS does not care about their welfare, adding that the tribe has instead had to rely on activists for help.

“Jakoa gives help but not as often as the activist groups. This coming general election, we will get many perks.”

“Usually when we ask Jakoa for something, for example, water supply, they will tell us to write a letter. They don’t make it easy for us to ask for help,” he said.

Cost of living

Aziz said the Orang Asli community is also burdened by inflation.

“Rice, oil, eggs are very expensive now,” he said.

Village chief Muhamad Pokok said the Orang Asli of Kuala Koh comprise nearly 400 people in 32 households.

He said they are in dire need of clean water supply.

“This village has just received electricity supply, 11 years after the first stone house was built. When this house was built, Jakoa equipped it with fans, lights but no electricity,” he said.

Muhamad said the residents also need 37 more housing units. There are only 12 now.

He said residents are still worried about the floods that occur during the monsoon.

“The worst was in 2014, when all our houses were washed away.” – October 26, 2022.