A group of Orang Asli visitors to Penang are impressed with the state’s system of governance, saying the people here are given the opportunity to decide on their future.

The group’s spokesperson, Sabariah Yusri, said having the freedom to decide on one’s own future is a very important matter for the Orang Asli.

“After visiting several state agencies here, we have learnt that the Penang government gives its people the opportunity to make their own decisions. This is a very important element for us,” Sabariah said at a luncheon hosted by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in Komtar today.

“This is so different from the manner in which the federal government works, where we are not given the opportunity to decide anything.

“It’s really a new experience, to see how the system of governance works in an urban area, as we are all from rural areas,” said the 28-year-old woman who hails from Pahang.

The Orang Asli continue to face threats to their environment, including loss of livelihood, eviction and flooding, due to massive logging, deforestation, urbanisation and over-development.

Along with Sabariah, 31 other Orang Asli went on a study tour in Penang, visiting several state agencies and the local communities to share their experiences.

The group also visited Kampung Permatang Tok Suboh in Bukit Mertajam, where the residents faced eviction by a private developer but with state intervention, managed to obtain proper compensation.

The event was hosted by Penggerak Komuniti Anak Muda Pulau Pinang (Peka), which is a unit under the state’s think-tank Penang Institute.

Activist Adam Ali, who coordinates Peka, said it allows youths to contribute to the nation, where they act as the communicators between the state authorities and local communities.

Clean vs corrupt government

Penang Institute executive director Steven Sim said the group comprised 32 Orang Asli from Kelantan, Perak, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak.

“The most obvious theme that they have found in their learning here is that with a clean government, the rakyat will have easy lives. If the government is corrupt, the people’s lives will be hard,” said Sim, the Bukit Mertajam MP.

During his speech, Lim said the state would stand with the residents to challenge eviction notices until they are awarded proper compensation.

“We may be slandered by Umno daily, but with your own eyes, you can see who is the fighter, and who is the traitor of the people.

“The residents of Kampung Tok Subuh did not only get proper compensation, they also got land and houses in their village,” the chief minister said.

Despite often being criticised for overdevelopment, Lim said the state only allowed projects that could benefit the people.

He expressed empathy with the plight of the Orang Asli, who fear threats to their lives and livelihood due to overdevelopment and logging activities.

“Not one plot of land has been allowed for logging in Penang. We have not touched our forest reserves, in line with the state’s green and healthy policy,”added Lim, referring to a chart on licences (see below) issued by states for works on forest reserves.