NGO seeking donations for Kuala Koh Orang Asli struck by 'mysterious illness'
An NGO is on a donation drive for supplies to help the Orang Asli community in Kuala Koh who are facing a health threat.
Klima Action Malaysia is planning to drop off food, fresh water and medical supply to the Bateq tribe at Kuala Koh on June 13...
An NGO is on a donation drive for supplies to help the Orang Asli community in Kuala Koh who are facing a health threat.
Klima Action Malaysia is planning to drop off food, fresh water and medical supply to the Bateq tribe at Kuala Koh on June 13.
“There are 57 families there (about 280 people) and they are all in starvation mode because they do not have access to clean water.
“What they are telling us is that the water source in the area is contaminated and they don't know why.
“We plan to go there and bring medical, food and fresh water supplies,” Klima coordinator Nadiah Dzulfakar told Malaysiakini today.
A team of researchers, Nadiah said, will also accompany Klima to determine if the water in the area is indeed contaminated, and why.
The group, she added, has been liaising with people on the ground at Kuala Koh since before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays.
Read more: Another Kuala Koh Orang Asli villager dies of lung infection
According to Nadiah, authorities had promised to take action after the festive period, but their purported failure to do so spurred Klima to do its part to help the Bateq community.
The group is appealing to the public to donate money so that it can buy the supplies or drop off the purchased goods.
The campaign has seen collections of RM6,000 worth of goods in just a day, but Nadiah said she hopes to get as many supplies as possible before Klima leaves for Kuala Koh on June 13.
The group is looking for food such as rice, sugar, salt, tea, coffee, Milo, flour, anchovies, instant noodles, cooking oil, biscuits, canned sardines and condensed milk.
The NGO is also accepting medicines and medical items, such as Panadol for children, Panadol ActiFast, cough syrup, Cool Fever patches and plasters.
The goods can be dropped off at Masjid Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, where Klima will be accepting donations up to June 11, or at Bandar Chiku 3, Gua Musang, where it will be accepting donations up to June 12.
Meanwhile, for those who want to make monetary contributions, donations can be banked into Maybank account 162021600931 (Nadiah Dzulfakar).
It was recently reported that members of the Orang Asli community in Kuala Koh lived in fear after they claimed that 13 residents, including a one-year-old baby, had died due to an illness in the past month.
However, police have refuted reports that two Orang Asli residents in Kampung Kuala Koh had died of a mysterious illness on May 29 and June 7.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.