RM150 million has been allocated for the development of infrastructure for Orang Asli in the country, said Rural and Regional Development Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

The allocation was for three years beginning 2010 under the National Key Results Areas (NKRA) initiative, he told reporters after the 'Konvensyen Tanah Dan Akta Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia' today.

jahai orang asli kelantan tualang story 200409 02 "The allocation is important for the development of the Orang Asli to eradicate hardcore poverty, enhance the quality of life, enhance awareness, elevate level of education, and assure the health of the Orang Asli.

"This is important to ensure the Orang Asli community is not marginalised in line with the 1Malaysia concept of the government," he said.

Shafie said in efforts to realise that goal the ministry had identified appropriate strategies and established a "focus group" for the Orang Asli in five main fields.

Those fields included education, economic development, local infrastructure, traditional and heritage knowledge, and health.

Land ownership

In the convention organised by the Persatuan Siswazah Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (PSOA), there was debate about the policy of ownership and development of land as well as problems faced by the Orang Asli.

NONE "As to the ownership of land, the matter of ownership and development of Orang Asli land has been forwarded to the cabinet and the palace and the Attorney-General's Chambers is going through the final stages of the matter and some clauses have to be made clear.

"If not in March, possibly in June we can table it in Parliament," he told reporters.

Shafie said the Department of Orang Asli Affairs (JHEOA) was presently having a 'roadshow' in all states to provide information about the Orang Asli community on the matter of land ownership for farming as well for homes.

- Bernama