The Johor government should visit the site of the three new Orang Asli settlements in Bekok, Segamat, before accusing the villagers of kicking up a fuss over the lack of proper basic amenities, said a community leader today.

Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli Association (POASM) president Majid Suhat said the complaints raised by the 60 participants involved in the pilot resettlement scheme are valid.

"Did the state authorities conduct a site inspection? Did they see for themselves the condition of the houses and the villages?" he asked during a telephone interview.

He added that the Orang Asli, by nature, are not fussy.

"They are used to the hard life and are relatively easy to please. There would have been no complaints if the houses had been delivered as promised.

"The villagers do not even have a copy of the agreement with YPJ Plantation Management Sdn Bhd, the developer of the scheme."

YPJ is the state's education arm, and its officials could not be contacted for comments on the matter.

The villagers from Kampung Lenek, Kampung Kemidak and Kampung Selai want the developer and the state to rectify the inadequacies immediately.

There is no electricity supply to two villages - Kampung Kemidak and Kampung Selai - while Kampung Lenek villagers are still waiting for piped water connection.

Meanwhile, the sewerage, drainage and toilet systems in all three villages remain incomplete.

No response

The villagers are equally upset over the absence of a response from the authorities.

Majid said the blame should also go to the Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA) for failing to resolve the issue after six years.

"Even if there is no formal agreement between the parties, it is the duty and responsibility of the department to protect and uphold the interest of the villagers," he added.

The pilot scheme, involving 188 Orang Asli participants, was implemented using the revenue obtained from logging in the area.

The concession was in exchange for developing six Orang Asli villages.

"I would think that the logging revenue to be more than the total cost of construction," said Majid.

He said the JHEOA should hold the developer and the state government responsible for breaking their promise when the scheme began in 1997 to provide better infrastructure.

"When someone promises you proper infrastructure, you would not expect sub-standard facilities."

'Nothing is moving'

The villagers were also refused a copy of the official letter on the handing-over of the house keys despite repeated verbal and written requests.

The keys were handed over to participants in March last year by Johor executive councillor for family development and health, Halimah Mohamed Sadique. She is also in charge of Orang Asli affairs.

Contacted today, Jali Yusuf, the Bekok POASM representative, said there has been no changes in the condition of the villages despite numerous letters to the authorities.

"We are waiting for the government and developer to act on our complaints, but it has been months now and nothing is moving."

He noted that the treatment of the villagers' problems leaves much to be desired about civil service courtesy and efficiency.

The JHEOA, which falls under the Rural Development Ministry's purview, could not be reached for comments.