The Orang Asli community, long considered the BN’s ‘fixed deposit’ for votes because of their loyalty to the ruling coalition, is expected to field candidates against BN big guns in the coming general election.

Persatuan Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia vice-president Simpan Suda told Malaysiakini that some of the target constituencies are Rompin, Bera (Pahang) and Tapah (Perak).

azlan The incumbent MPs are BN heavyweights Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister M Saravanan (MIC-Tapah), Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Umno-Bera) and BN chief Najib Abdul Razak's loyalist Jamaluddin Jarjis (Umno-Rompin).

Among the Orang Asli touted to be fielded are lawyer-activist Amani Williams-Hunt @ Bah Tony in the Tapah parliamentary seat.

PKR Felda and Orang Asal bureau deputy chairperson Bob Manolan Mohamad, meanwhile, is expected to contest in a state seat in Bera.

Simpan, a former Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa) officer, said he may contest in Rompin to capitalise on the 14,000 Orang Asli voters in the constituency.

However, the final decision on Rompin will only be decided next week at a meeting among 28 tok batin (community leaders) from the area, just days before nominations close on April 20, Simpan said.

azlan “We will only know on April 18 who goes where, not earlier,” he told Malaysiakini .

Simpan, who is not affiliated to any political party at present, remained elusive about where his loyalties lie.

“I don't want to say Umno or any other party. I am not sure (which I will support).

“But (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim has come to my house in Port Dickson (Kampung Sunggala),” Sipan said, laughing.

The emergence of more Orang Asli candidates is expected to push issues of the communities, such as native land rights, to the forefront in the coming GE set for May 5.

At present the community's only parliamentary representative is Umno senator Muhammad Olian Abdullah.

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